The Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments has recommended the refiling in the 19th Congress of a bill seeking the mandatory registration of subscriber identity module (SIM) cards to contain the spread of false information and injury on social media.

The recommendation was contained in a committee report of the constitutional amendments panel report signed by outgoing Senator Francis Pangilinan, committee chairman, and submitted before the Senate adjourned sine die last June 1.

The report stated that persons usually hide behind fake names and fake media accounts in spreading disinformation or hate speech.

It pointed out that the mandatory SIM Card Registration Bill would be of great help because it will obligate the registration of all pre-paid SIM cards and will mandate social media platforms to ask for the real name and contact details of the account owner.

Earlier, President Duterte had vetoed the proposed SIM Card Registration Act.

Acting Presidential Spokesperson, Communication Secretary Martin Andanar, had said that the provision ordering the mandatory registration of social media accounts prompted Duterte to veto the measure.

“The President has decided to veto the consolidated Senate Bill No. 2395/House Bill No. 5793, which seeks to mandate the registration of all SIM cards and social media accounts, with the purpose of deterring electronic communication-aided crimes,” he said.

While Duterte lauded Congress’ efforts in finding ways to address the increasing incidence of cybercrimes and offenses related to information and communications technology (ICT), he was “constrained to disagree with the inclusion of social media in the measure, without providing proper guidelines and definitions", Andanar said.

The President, he said, expressed concern that the contentious provision “may give rise to a situation of dangerous state intrusion and surveillance threatening many constitutionally protected rights".

“It is incumbent upon the Office of the President to ensure that any statute is consistent with the demands of the Constitution, such as those which guarantee individual privacy and free speech,” Andanar said.

Duterte sought a “more thorough” review of the proposal to mandate social media registration, he added.