Globe Telecom: “If the SMS has a link of any kind, we are not going to deliver it, period.”
GLOBE TELECOM — The Ayala-led telecommunications company said that it started temporarily blocking links in text messages as part of efforts to combat scam and spam text messages.
In a statement on Friday, the telco said that it began blocking the delivery of person-to-person text messages coming from all networks that contain Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) or clickable website links.
Globe Telecom said that blocking will be enforced pending passage and implementation of the proposed SIM Registration Bill, adding that the measure is vital to strengthen the government’s capacity to apprehend cybercriminals and other abusers of digital technology.
The telco also said that it will empower telecommunications companies in protecting their customers and systems from fraudulent activity.
According to Globe chief information security officer Anton Bonifacio, this major step reflects their commitment to the country’s economic recovery by “ensuring that the accelerated digital adoption does not expose customers to worsening cyberthreats”.
“We are taking this measure for the security of our 92 million customers at Globe and 66 million more using GCash as we note how the modus operandi of fraudsters are becoming even more sophisticated,” Bonifacio said. “We hope this will make a major dent on various spam and scam SMS rackets.”
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Globe Telecom said that the telco has been working closely with lawmakers towards the crafting and passage of a rational SIM Registration law, providing inputs that aim to ensure the credibility of the system, including its call for an authentic and verifiable source document so telecommunications companies can cross-check the authenticity of a SIM holder’s identity, given the prevalence of fake identification cards.
Also, the telco is seeking an amendment to a provision in the measure requiring telecommunications companies to store SIM registration data for 10 years from deactivation.
Instead, Globe Telecom said that the telco is proposing that telecommunications companies be mandated to keep historical data on registered prepaid SIM owners as they’re known to frequently change their mobile phone numbers.
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