A CONSUMER advocacy group has urged the government to tap artificial intelligence (AI) in curbing fraudulent SIM card registration.
CitizenWatch co-convenor and former legislator Kit Belmonte made the suggestion amid observations that the SIM law has been unable to protect mobile phone users from scammers and purveyors of unwanted messges.
“Drastic situations need equally drastic solutions,” Belmonte stressed.
“We do not doubt that the SIM Registration Act has good intentions as it aims to promote responsibility in the use of SIMs and provide law enforcement agencies with the tools to resolve crimes,” he said.
“But we must not underestimate scammers who will stop at nothing to undermine the intent of the law for their own selfish and sinister aims,” he added.
Republic Act 11934 or the SIM Registration Act was enacted on October 10, 2022 and its implementing rules and regulations were released on December 12, 2022. To date, there are over 118 million registered SIM cards nationwide.
“A boost from AI will not hurt,” Belmonte said, citing the efforts of the Department of Telecommunications in India which uses “Artificial Intelligence and Facial Recognition powered Solution for Telecom SIM Subscriber Verification (ASTR)” in detecting and blocking suspicious mobile connections.
“AI when harnessed properly has the power to revolutionize and elevate our fight against fraudsters,” Belmonte said. “It will be a strategic weapon that can be integrated with a comprehensive, multi-pronged approach to a complex and evolving problem.”
Observers noted that despite the urgency of its objectives, the SIM law has inadvertently created a black market for registered SIM cards.
Earlier this year, two persons were arrested for selling pre-registered SIM cards to Chinese and Filipino buyers for P1,500 to P2,500 each. The suspects were charged under the SIM Card Registration Act and the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
“These cards were listed under fictitious names and reportedly linked to a mobile wallet app,” Belmonte pointed out.
The head of the National Bureau of Investigation’s cybercrime division admitted during a Senate hearing that anyone can easily fake one’s identity online and use a SIM despite the availability of supposed verification systems.
“Text scams, crypto currency scams, and even human trafficking remain possible by simply exploiting the loopholes,” Belmonte said. “Criminals always try to be one step ahead of the law.”
Belmonte proposed that the government intensifies its collaboration with the private sector, specifically by giving telecommunication companies support through its vast ID database.
“Among the measures that could be taken is a tie-up between government regulators and telecommunication companies (Telco’s) to provide secure access to government ID data, which can be used to check and block fake SIM registration by scamming syndicates,” Belmonte said.
He also urged the government to ensure the security of its databases to protect themselves from cybercrime perpetrators trying to hack sensitive data.
“These will complement the efforts of Telco’s, which are already investing heavily in fighting fraudulent activities,” Belmonte said, adding that Globe has invested ₱1.1 billion in a system specifically designed to detect and block dubious SMS, and upgraded its SIM registration platform that verifies data within 24 hours to prevent frauds.