IN THE PAST few days, complaints mounted about thousands of text messages from random numbers offering nonexistent jobs to unsuspecting victims. Referred to as smishing, it is classified as a cybersecurity attack carried out over mobile text messaging wherein victims are deceived into giving personal data that the perpetrators use to commit fraud, which usually is to steal money.
Possession of the most modern technology comes with tremendous responsibility because it could be abused. A mechanism must be put in place to ensure its effective use for the good of all while preventing its illegal or malicious use.
Just this Dec. 1, the House of Representatives approved on second reading the measure requiring the registration of Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards. The “SIM Card Registration Act” seeks to help law enforcement agencies track down lawless criminals who use mobile phones with postpaid and prepaid SIM cards.
This latest development is most welcome. With the growing popularity of smart mobile devices such as phones, tablets and watches comes the risk of text-based and online scams, some of which may allow an attacker to steal a user’s identity and commit crimes in his or her name.
As proposed, persons who want to use prepaid SIM cards must fill up a registration form providing their name and the phone number of the prepaid SIM card. Buyers must present valid government documents such as passports, or school or company IDs with photos. Dealers and telecommunications service providers who sell the SIM cards must maintain records of the names and other data of all persons who purchased the cards. If a prepaid SIM card is used in an illegal or criminal activity, law enforcement agencies may retrieve information from the database – but only with a written court order.
While the pre-paid SIM is easily accessible and can be bought almost everywhere, the owners can potentially evade detection. However, this opens the door to unscrupulous individuals to commit criminal activities to the detriment not only of a particular interest but that of the whole nation.
Technology should be used for the advancement of the interest of all and not only of a chosen few. It therefore imperative to ensure that the benefits we derive from technology should be used properly and not abused by some disgruntled segments of our society. Every new technology carries with it tremendous responsibility.
