A measure has been filed in the Senate calling for an investigation on the proliferation of spam and phishing text messages that now include the receiver's name to ensure the protection of consumers' right to privacy and security.
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, who authored the resolution, expressed concern over reports of spam and phishing messages that include the receiver's name, saying that it stirs fear among consumers that their personal details may have been compromised.
READ: How Spam Texts are Used to Steal Your Data
“It is alarming that while major telecommunications providers claim to have already blocked a significant number of spam and phishing text messages, the problem continues to hound many telco subscribers," Gatchalian said.
An inter-agency group was created in November last year led by the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center to address the spate of spam texts and phishing messages.
Gatchalian, however, said that despite the existence of the inter-agency group and initiatives to investigate spam and phishing messages, latest data show that the issue remains a concern among many users.
In June this year, PLDT claimed to have blocked more than 23 million text messages in four days for attempting to get consumers’ personal data, Gatchalian said. Globe Telecom also blocked over 138 million spam texts from January to June this year, he added.
“Malinaw na hindi sapat ang mga hakbang na ginawa ng inter-agency group upang matugunan ang problemang ito dahil ang mga subscribers ay patuloy na nakakatanggap ng mga spam at phishing messages," Gatchalian said.
"Higit pang mga interbensyon ang kailangan gawin ng gobyerno para epektibong matuldukan ang mga ganitong mga gawain,” he added.
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