PLDT’s Smart gets behind SIM registration bill

PLDT Inc. mobile division Smart Communications today (22 June) backed legislators’ efforts to set up the Subscriber Identity Mobile (SIM) Card Registration Bill to ensure consumer protection. ‘As a long-time advocate of consumer online protection, Smart has been actively implementing initiatives to keep our customers safe, especially from scams and fraud,’ said Alfredo S Panlilio, PLDT and Smart Communications President and CEO. ‘We are always ready to support the legislative process. We welcome any opportunity to contribute to the success of the SIM card registration bill and support the government in developing its implementing rules and regulations,’ he added. The Manila Bulletin also notes that recently, PLDT-Smart blocked more than 23 million SMS containing three URLs identified as phishing (or ‘smishing’) sites. Further, between January-March 2022 they stopped over 600,000 text messages linked to such practices, blocked almost 78,000 SIMs related to smishing and shut down more than 500 domains.