Working toward a connected, protected citizenry
February 13, 2025Working toward a connected, protected citizenry
Statement of CitizenWatch Philippines
Mixed reactions have greeted the introduction of Senate Bill 2699, more popularly known as the Konektadong Pinoy Act.
The objective of the bill is laudable indeed – to bring connectivity to as many Filipinos as possible across the archipelago. Ideally, the drastically-improved connections, due to relaxed regulations and the presence of an increased number of telco players, would allow for a free and healthy competition that would seek only to bring the best options to the citizenry.
What our eagerness for connectivity has led us to, however, is to fail to ponder the potential security implications of suddenly letting more telco providers into the market.
The bill in its current form may not have enough safeguards to ensure that those new players have been vetted and have no interests adverse to the security of the nation, or the security of the individual consumers.
Without strong regulatory enforcement, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) would have limited power to oversee new market entrants, making it easier for unscrupulous entities to take advantage of consumers, particularly in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA) where digital literacy is low – and internet users will be more vulnerable.
If this happens, then the price of being connected will be too high for ordinary users and consumers who will likely fall prey to digital predators out to dupe them into divulging their credentials, steal their digital assets, cajole them into transferring their money or worse, use their identities for malign purposes.
We at CitizenWatch urge our lawmakers that for the sake of our citizens, give this bill a second look and plug the loopholes that may be exploited by criminals.