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Groups still apprehensive of Konektadong Pinoy amid DICT assurance

Groups continue to express apprehension on Konektadong Pinoy Bill despite assurance from the Department of Information and Communications Technology. Citizens Crime Watch Internationale said it is skeptical about the merits of the Konektadong Pinoy Bill, saying its unintended consequence may spur the proliferation of online gaming or e-gambling. Scam Watch Pilipinas, on the other hand, said the bill may spur cyber fraud and weaken the country's digital security. CCWI founder and national chairman Michelle Botor said that beyond the national security risks is a potential surge in access to online gambling platforms, which can be inadvertently fueled by the bill. 'Without robust vetting and filtering mechanisms in place, the legislation may provide unregulated e-gaming operators with easier market entry through new, unmonitored digital infrastructure,' Botor said. 'The Konektadong Pinoy legislation seeks to connect more Filipinos to internet, but if cybersecurity is treated as an afterthought, it also opens the door to serious threats - particularly from unregulated online gambling platforms,' she added. She noted that such platforms are increasingly being used to lure people into fraudulent schemes, contributing to a rise in digital addiction, debt, and the involvement of minors in illegal gambling activities. She argued that with greater digital reach and weak filters, the KPB, if enacted into law could unintentionally normalize gambling behavior among youth and vulnerable sectors of the population. For its part, the Scam Watch Pilipinas said that while it supports the bill's goal of expanding nationwide internet access and modernizing the country's digital infrastructure, it warns that several provisions may inadvertently expose the Philippines to escalating risks involving cybersecurity, and data privacy breaches. Cybersecurity stakeholders earlier urged President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. to address the cybersecurity risks found in the Konektadong Pinoy Bill, which is now awaiting the signature of the country's chief executive to become a law. In a statement Tuesday, the DICT said it welcomes the public dialogue surrounding the measure, which is now awaiting the President's signature. It said it acknowledges the concerns raised by various stakeholders regarding potential regulatory and cybersecurity risks. 'We affirm our shared commitment with civil society, industry, and government partners to uphold national security, consumer protection, and universal access to secure, affordable, and reliable internet,' the ICT Department said. 'The DICT will never allow deregulation at the expense of security or public interest. The Konektadong Pinoy Bill does not weaken the role of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC),' it added. —AOL, GMA Integrated News