NAGBABALA kahapon ang National Privacy Commission (NPC) na naghihintay ang parusang pagkakakulong at pagmumulta sa mga sangkot sa pagbebenta ng registered subscriber identity module (SIM) cards.
Ang NPC ang nag-iisang data privacy authority ng bansa na may mandatong ipatupad ang mga probisyon ng Data Privacy Act of 2012.
Ayon sa NPC, may “seryosong kabayaran” ang pagpaparehistro sa SIMs para lamang ibenta ito.
Ang babala ay ginawa ng privacy authority makaraang maalarma sa mga bagong kaganapan na kinasasangkutan ng ilang indibidwal na nagpapanggap na mga ahente ng mga entity na may masamang hangarin at hinihikayar ang mga ‘unsuspecting individuals’ sa alok na pera na nag-a-average na P1,000 kapalit ng mga rehistradong SIM card.
“This practice is not only prohibited under the SIM Registration Act (RA No. 11934) but it also places data subjects in a vulnerable position, exposing them to potential legal repercussions, risks and harms if a SIM card, registered in their name, is misused for illicit activities,” ayon sa NPC.
“Severe penalties shall be imposed upon those involved in the sale or transfer of a registered SIM without complying with required registration or without properly informing the telco concerned pursuant to the provisions of the SIM Registration Act,” dagdag pa nito.
“More specifically, under Section 11 (g) of the SIM Registration Act, individuals found guilty of selling or transferring a registered SIM card without complying with the required registration under Section 6 of the same law may be subject to imprisonment ranging from six months to six years, or a fine of P100,000 to P300,000 or both,” ayon pa sa NPC.
Nanawagan ang NPC sa publiko na manatiling mapagbantay laban sa anumang aksiyon na maglalagay sa kanilang personal data sa panganib.
“The NPC remains committed to safeguarding the data privacy rights of every Filipino citizen, and we stand ready to take appropriate action against those who disregard and violate the Data Privacy Act of 2012 and related issuances,” dagdag pa nito.