Ilonggo Senator Franklin M. Drilon is “extremely disappointed” with President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to veto of a bill mandating SIM card and social media registration.
“To say that I am disappointed by the President’s veto is an understatement. By vetoing this bill, the President lets trolls thrive, spread lies and hate, and fuel discord and division,” Drilon said in a statement.
“Political trolling as we’ve seen these days is a thriving business. This veto is a big win for troll farms,” he added.
Duterte vetoed the proposed Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Card Registration Act due to the provision ordering the mandatory registration of social media accounts.
The bill’s inclusion of social media registration could lead to “dangerous state intrusion” into privacy and free speech, according to Duterte.
Section 2 of the SIM Card Registration Act states that: “The State shall require the registration of SIM Cards for electronic devices and social media accounts by all users.”
“Thus there is a need to promote accountability in the use of SIM card and social media and shall provide law enforcement agencies the tools to resolve crimes which involve its utilization and the platform to deter the commission of wrong doings.”
The provision was introduced byDrilon during plenary deliberations on the bill and was later on adopted by the bicameral conference committee.
“I authored this particular provision of the measure in order to address the anonymity in the internet and the social media that allowed an environment for troll accounts and fake news,” he said.
“It’s not a last-minute insertion. We studied it and introduced it in the Senate plenary as part of our humble contribution in the fight against trolls, fake news and other internet-related criminal activities. Twenty-two senators voted in favor of the measure on third reading last December. The House of Representatives adopted our version with little modification,” Drilon explained.
The senator considered as “unfounded” the concerns that the measure could affect individual privacy and free speech cited in the veto message.
Drilon said that Section 9 of the bill provides for the confidentiality clause which mandates that “any information obtained in the registration process described under this Act cannot be disclosed to any person.”
The disclosure may only be done in compliance with any law obligating the PTE or social media provider to disclose such information in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act.
No. 10173 or the Data Privacy Act of 2012; in compliance with a court order, legal process, or other government regulatory, or enforceable administrative request for information; in compliance with Section 10 of the bill; or with the written consent of the subscriber, he explained.
“There were enough safeguards. Unfortunately, the veto is nothing but to protect troll operators and troll armies, some of them are in Malacanang,” Drilon said, citing the thousands of contractual employees at the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) suspected of running troll accounts. The Commission on Audit (COA) flagged the PCOO for hiring too many alleged consultants.IMT
