The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has just published the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the SIM Card Registration Act last Monday, December 12, 2022.
SIM Card Registration Law IRR
The IRR of the SIM Card Registration Law states that subscribers are given 180 days (around 6 months) from the effectivity of the law to register their SIM cards and can be extended for up to, but not exceeding 120 days (around 4 months). Also, all SIMs, including embedded SIMs (eSIMS) and SIMs intended for data only or used for fixed wireless broadband modems, are subject to registration.
Furthermore, the government assigned telecommunication companies to establish their own secure online SIM registration platform. If you fail to register an existing SIM within the period prescribed, it will result in the deactivation of the said SIM card.
Under the SIM Card Registration Law, those who intentionally provide false or fictitious information, or will use fake identities or fraudulent identification documents to register a SIM card may be imprisoned for up to 2 years or will be fined up to PHP 300,000, or both.
Those who give out misleading information about the source(phone call or text message), with intent to harm/deceive may be imprisoned for up to 6 years and fined PHP 200,000, or both.
Telecommunications companies, resellers, or entities who are caught in the sale of stolen SIMs will face imprisonment of up to 2 years or a fine of up to PHP 300,000, or both.
“Any information and data obtained in the registration process described under the Act shall be treated as absolutely confidential and shall not be disclosed to any person,” as stated in the IRR
With that said, a telecommunications company can reveal the full name and address of an end-user in the following instances:
- In compliance with any law obligating the public telecommunication entity to disclose such information in accordance with the provisions of the Data Privacy Act of 2012
- In compliance with a court order or legal process upon the finding of probable cause
- In compliance with Section 10 of the SIM Card Registration Act and Section 12 of the IRR; or
- With the written consent of the subscriber
Foreigners entering the country or who are already residing in the country are required to provide their passport and address in the Philippines when you register your SIM card under the SIM Card Registration Law.
The SIM Card Registration Law was signed by President Marcos Jr. to help curb the rise of fraudulent SMS and any other scams connected to unknown numbers spreading false information.
However, critics of the law said that this may also lead to data breaches and privacy violations.
Started his freelancing adventure in 2018 and began doing freelance Audio Engineering work and then started freelance writing a few years later.
Currently he writes for Gadget Pilipinas and formerly wrote for Grit.PH.
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