DICT Proposes Cybercrime Law Amendments to Combat Advanced Scammer Tactics

In Manila, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is advocating for revisions to the existing cybercrime legislation to more effectively tackle the sophisticated methods employed by scammers. During a press conference at Malacañang, DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy highlighted the resurgence of scam text messages, despite the SIM Card Registration law’s efforts to curb such activities. Uy explained that while the registration law had initially deterred scammers, these individuals have since adapted, employing new strategies and tools. He described the current situation as a ‘guerilla warfare’ scenario, with scammers operating in smaller, more agile teams that are difficult to track. One notable technique mentioned by Uy is ‘drive-by hacking,’ where scammers use vehicles to infiltrate community mobile networks. Many of these devices, Uy noted, are smuggled into the country due to their illegal nature. In response, the DICT is intensifying its field operations and collaborating with Congress to revise the cybercrime law. The proposed amendments aim to adopt a broader approach similar to laws in other countries that address ‘online harm,’ encompassing a wide range of malicious online activities from cybercrime and scamming to hacking.