The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) is thinking of making personal appearance a requirement for SIM registration under the SIM Registration Act. This law, which started in December 2022, aims to prevent scams by requiring users to register their SIM cards.
Currently, people can register their SIM cards online by submitting a photo, a government-issued ID, and their personal information. However, some scammers have found ways to cheat the system. This is why NTC wants to add the personal appearance requirement, similar to how you need to show up in person for a driver’s license or an NBI clearance.
Last year, the NTC proposed changes to the law, requesting Congress to give them the power to limit how many SIM cards a person can own and to narrow down which types of government IDs are accepted for registration. They also want a system where telcos can verify IDs easily.
In 2024, telcos blocked 3.34 million scam messages and deactivated 3.12 million SIM cards, helping to reduce text scams and SIM fraud. The SIM Registration Act requires users to register their SIM cards or risk deactivation to fight mobile phone-related crimes.
Critics argue that requiring personal appearance could make things difficult for kids, seniors, and people with disabilities.
The NTC will continue reviewing the proposal. A final decision is yet to be made.
