Uploading animal photo in SIM registration a criminal act — DICT

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 20) — The uploading of photos of animals and providing fake information in subcriber identity module (SIM) registration are punishable by law, a Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) official said on Wednesday.

"Technically speaking po, may violation ‘yun which is fineable… So ‘pag nalaman namin kung sino ‘yung nagregister at ni-report din sa amin, we can use the SIM card registration law to go after that person," Undersecretary Jeffrey Dy said in an interview on CNN Philippines' Newsroom Ngayon.

[Translation: Technically speaking, there is a violation subject to fines. So if we have knew who registered the SIM and it was reported to us, we can use the SIM registration law to go after that person.]

Uy reminded the public that under the SIM registration law, giving false identity, lying, and even the uninformed buying and selling of registered SIM are classified as criminal acts. The penalties are imprisonment of from six to two years, or a fine of not less than ₱100,000 but not more than ₱300,000.

On Sept. 5, officials of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) told a Senate hearing the registration of a SIM using a photo of a monkey.

Jeremy Lotoc, NBI Cybercrime Division chief, said the agency tried to register SIM bought from different telecommunications companies as part of its investigation.

“We entered the face of an animal and different names, natanggap pa rin [it was still accepted],” Lotoc said.

READ: NBI says photo of animal can be used in SIM registration

https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/9/5/nbi-sim-registration-animal-photo.html

Dy said DICT verifies the authentication of identification cards submitted in the registration using database from different agencies.

He added the agency consolidates data, but the telecommunications companies handle the registration system.

"Iyong tinatawag natin na database na authenticated na identities saan mangangaling ‘yan? [Where does the database of authenticated identities come from?]" he said. "Marami 'no [There are many sources]. It could be the national ID, it could be the driver’s license database, it could be the GSIS (Government Service Insurance System) or SSS (Social Security System) database."

"Such that when someone, like telcos, connect to it, may nakukunan siya na totoo bang tao ito, siya ba talaga ito [the information is true]," he added.

Meanwhile, Uy advised the public to be on alert against hacking through text scams.

"Kapag minamadali kang mag-desisyon, kapag mayroong pinapa-click sa iyo, huwag po, maghinay-hinay kayo, huwag niyo click, tawagan, or reply," Uy stressed.

[Translation: If you are asked to immediately decide, if you are urged to click, don't do it, be slow to move, don't click, call, or reply.]