DICT to create task force, complaint center vs text scams, illegal sites

Newly appointed Information and Communications Technology Secretary Ivan Uy on Sunday said his department is set to create a task force and complaint center for text scams and illegal sites.

During an interview on Super Radyo dzBB, Uy underscored the need to intensify their crackdown on cybercrimes.

He noted that they have tasked their field personnel to immediately investigate and report the continued operation of e-sabong or online cockfighting websites.

“Dahil sa order na pagpapatigil sa online sabong... hinahabol na natin kung anong mode ang ginagamit para maipagpatuloy ang operasyon nito... We will set-up a task force to monitor 'yung mga illegal na gumagamit ng ating teknolohiya,” Uy said.

(Due to the order to stop online cockfighting... we are looking into what other modes are being used to continue its operation... We will set up a task force to monitor those who illegally use technology.)

“Magtatatag [rin] tayo ng central complaint center kung saan pwedeng i-consolidate ang mga reklamo laban sa mga text scams,” he continued, noting that it would be a big help if the SIM Card registration Act could be passed into law by the 19th Congress.

(We will also establish a central complaint center where complaints against text scams can be consolidated.)

Former President Rodrigo Duterte in April vetoed the SIM Card Registration Act which seeks the mandatory registration of all SIM cards and social media accounts.

Similarly, Uy disclosed that they are planning to launch a call center that would receive complaints related to the services of telecommunication providers.

“Gagawa tayo ng task force o call center na tatanggap ng mga reklamo kaugnay sa serbisyo ng mga telco... Gagawa tayo ng public score card... every month maglalabas tayo ng assessment sa performance ng telcos para mapilitan sila na ayusin o bantayan ang kanilang serbisyo,” he said.

(We will create a task force or call center that will receive complaints related to the service of telcos... We will create a public score card... every month we will issue an assessment of the performance of telcos to force them to fix or monitor their service.)

Freedom of expression

While there were plans to boost the crackdown on cybercrimes, Uy admitted that it would be difficult to arrest its perpetrators as it could be viewed as curtailing freedom of expression.

“Ang internet is a free resource... Sa disenyo nito, it's supposed to be open... It was designed to survive nuclear war as a form of communication... Kung gagawa tayo ng mga paraan para i-block ito, maaaring violation ito ng freedom of expression,” he pointed out.

(The internet is a free resource ... In its design, it's supposed to be open ... It was designed to survive a nuclear war as a form of communication ... If we create ways to block it, it could be a violation of freedom of expression.)

“Kung magkakabit tayo ng mga device na magse-censor sa internet, baka maakusahan tayo na nire-restrict ang freedom of expression,” he furthered.

(If we install devices that censor the internet, we may be accused of restricting freedom of expression.) — DVM, GMA News