The Philippines is facing another series of SIM Card Registration bills from the Senate and House of Representatives. They seem to be obsessed with this despite the fact that the previous one faced criticisms from different sectors.

Personally, I do not know why these legislators are ignoring the major issues that come with SIM card registration just to combat SMS spam and fraud. Ignore the fact that they might insert that social media rider again - you know, requiring social media companies to require users to disclose their real names and mobile phone numbers to combat trolls, which is ridiculous, too.

Since 2002, a UK-based charity, Privacy International, has been tracking SIM card registration laws all over the world.

Their take on this is as follows: "Such laws are often defended on the flawed assumption that they help fight crime. A 2016 GSMA report states there is no empirical evidence that mandatory SIM registration directly leads to a reduction in crime. The practice has been exposed as ineffective and inefficient in some countries that have adopted its use.

"For example, in Pakistan, requiring SIM card registration resulted in the emergence of black markets for unregistered SIM cards, and a rise in identity fraud. Mexico's card registration law was enacted in 2009 but was repealed just three years later after yielding no improvement in the prevention, investigation, and prosecution of associated crimes.

Canada, the Czech Republic, Ireland and the Netherlands have all rejected proposals to establish a similar measure."  On SIM Card Registration, Privacy International Philippine legislators must do several public consultations before voting on these bills, unlike what happened to the first one, which was railroaded.

Good thing it was vetoed.

Where are the PH telecommunications companies , they're part of the GSMA, right? Shouldn't they be educating these legislators about the 2016 GSMA report? These bills have surveillance, discrimination and exclusion as major issues. Shouldn't the Commission on Human Rights be concerned? Where are the media practitioners? They will be one of the largest hit sectors if and when one of these bills passes and gets signed into law.

Maybe the intention of these legislators is to prevent whistleblowers and informants (who both need anonymity), but I sure hope not. These bills will cause more harm than good.

Why does the majority need to suffer because of the wrong-doings of a small number of good-for-nothing individuals? Filipinos should voice out their concerns with these bills before it is too late.

Stop it! No to SIM card registration!