Safeguard personal information of mobile subscribers, ensure cybersecurity policies in place, and provide proper consumer welfare mechanisms in the course of porting activities, Senator Win Gatchalian said in reminding telecommunications companies as they roll out the implementation of the Mobile Number Portability Act (MNPA) on September 30.
“Sa panahon ngayon na talamak ang iba’t ibang modus gamit ang mga online at mobile application platforms, importante na sinisiguro natin sa mga subscriber na mahigpit ang pagtalima ng telcos sa Data Privacy Act na kaakibat ng batas na ito at hindi mapapasakamay ng mga hindi awtorisadong tao ang kanilang personal data,” said Gatchalian, author of Republic Act No. 11202 otherwise known as the Mobile Number Portability Act.
Gatchalian likewise called on the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and the National Privacy Commission (NPC) to oversee the proper implementation of the law which allows subscribers to switch between telecommunications service providers without having to change their mobile numbers and pay for interconnection fees for calling or texting across different networks.
The senator also urged these concerned agencies to ensure the promotion of subscribers’ welfare and protect them against public exposure of mobile numbers.
Gatchalian cited the controversy now surrounding the popular Netflix’s Korean series Squid Game where a supposed fictitious phone number used in the show turned out to be a real mobile number and the owner who has been using it for more than 10 years received a barrage of prank calls and texts from curious fans.
In one of its episodes, a business card with a phone number is given to a potential contestant to be able to be invited to a mysterious survival competition with a cash prize worth ₩45.6 billion.
The unauthorized disclosure of personal information, such as an individual’s name and phone number, is punishable under the Data Privacy Act as Gatchalian warned the public against posting online phone numbers without the consent of the owner.
“Sa panahon ngayon na kailangan natin ng mas maayos na serbisyo lalo na’t halos nakadepende na tayo sa ating mga mobile phones sa mga araw-araw nating gawain, mahalaga na maisakatuparan na ito at libre tayong makapamili ng serbisyo ng gusto nating telco,” he said.
