The problem of unregistered SIM cards persists; who is responsible?

If a phone SIM card is used for fraud, the subscriber cannot escape blame. So, if a disposable SIM card remains active after multiple identity verification attempts, who will be held responsible?

That's a question many people are asking after mobile network operators once again began verifying subscriber information for all mobile phone users.

Specifically, the 2023 Telecommunications Law stipulates that the subscriber whose name is on the contract is legally responsible for the phone number they have contracted with. This means that if the subscriber's name is used in violations such as spam messages, fraud, or other illegal activities, whether intentionally or unintentionally, the subscriber whose name is on the contract may be held liable. This regulation makes subscribers more cautious about lending their personal information to others for phone number registration. However, this also raises the question: if a SIM card is used for spam messaging, harassment, or fraud, is the SIM card issuer also liable?

Looking back over the past decade or so, mobile network operators have conducted numerous large-scale campaigns to clean up "junk" SIM cards. For example, in 2016, a total of 17 million SIM cards showing signs of pre-activation were detected, and 16 million were blocked. By 2020, a review revealed 6.8 million active "junk" SIM cards, and network operators conducted a second round of blocking. In early 2023, the Ministry of Information and Communications then requested network operators to standardize mobile phone subscriber information by matching it with the Ministry of Public Security 's citizen identification number data to combat "junk" SIM cards. By mid-September 2023, network operators had blocked 12.5 million "junk" SIM cards. And most recently, there has been a campaign to verify subscriber information and confirm ownership, as statistics show that there are still about 34 million subscribers whose information has not been verified... No one knows why, despite the stricter controls and blocking efforts, "junk" SIM cards still exist and operate openly. But one thing is certain: the number of people registering SIM cards under their names for others to use after the comprehensive information review and subscriber registration process is not large, if not very small, except in cases where they register on behalf of elderly parents or young children...; because no one wants to face the legal consequences that may arise for them.

This time, in particular, the new regulations strictly manage each individual subscriber number. Accordingly, those using multiple phone numbers are required to verify information for all SIM cards they own, update facial photos, and standardize information fully to ensure data matches the national system. This means that registering SIM cards under someone else's name is impossible. Therefore, if there are still "junk" SIM cards, most of them are certainly activated using non-authentic information, and the responsibility clearly lies with the network operators.

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According to representatives of the regulatory agency, verifying subscriber information is a regular, periodic process over a long period, aiming to ensure that when people register for new subscriptions, they must provide identification documents and cross-check them with the national population database to guarantee the accuracy of the information. Confirming ownership ensures that the subscriber is still being used by the registered owner. While this is a regular and necessary process, it cannot be denied that each time the network provider checks and confirms ownership, it costs people time, effort, and even causes considerable inconvenience. Therefore, even when network providers aggressively block these SIM cards, there still needs to be someone held accountable. This is the only way to be fair to users, who are also customers of the network providers.

Disposal SIM cards are associated with the spread of spam messages and harassing calls for advertising, PR, and sales purposes. Nowadays, some methods have even evolved into deception, fraud, and threats. Therefore, to curb this problem, it is necessary to crack down on disposal SIM cards.

To crack down on unregistered SIM cards, it is essential to hold people accountable and impose strict penalties.

According to Nguyen Khanh (TNO)

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Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/sim-rac-van-con-ai-chiu-trach-nhiem-post590556.html