Pres. Duterte vetoes SIM card registration bill

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has vetoed the proposed SIM Card Registration Act, a bill that would require all SIM cards and social media accounts to be registered.

According to acting presidential spokesperson Martin Andanar, President Duterte believes the proposed SIM Card Registration Act requires further study. Duterte cited that "the inclusion of social media providers in the registration requirement was not part of the original version of the bill."

Moreover, regarding social media registration, the president "found that certain aspects of state intrusion, or the regulation thereof, have not been duly defined, discussed, or threshed out in the enrolled bill."

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."

Further, it states: "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."

Section 4 of the proposed bill also states that public telecommunications entities or telcos shall require the registration of SIM cards as a prerequisite to sale and activation.

On February 2, 2022, the Senate and House of Representatives ratified the bill's bicameral conference committee report.

Via ABS-CBN News