By: Ibrahim J. Conteh
In his keynote address and official opening of the Sixth Consumer Parliament organized by the National Telecommunication Commission (NATCOM) held at the N’jala Campus Bo town, with the theme “Digital Penetration for Consumer Satisfaction in Telecommunication” the Ministry of Information and Communication, Hon. Mohamed Rahman Swarray took the opportunity to deliberate among many other issues on the proposed Cyber Crime bill that has been tabled before Parliament, adding the said bill has lot of respect for human right issues that seek to guarantee the safety and protection of Online Users and mobile phones Subscribers amidst the many misconceptions on some media Platforms regarding the proposed bill.
Minister Swarray added that the Police Cyber Crime Unit finds it difficult to deal with crimes that are cyber related and can only proffers charges under the Public Order Act, but with the enactment of this law, he said it would be able to manage, adjudicate and trial cyber offences.
He acknowledged the tremendously work by NATCOM, adding that as a sequel to its mandate, the Commission has developed and enacted five Telecom Regulations, one of which has to do with Sims registration. However, he noted, many are yet to have their sim cards registered and this he said poses threat to the safety and security of online and mobile phone users.
Hon. Swarray stressed that all mobile phone subscribers need to register their SIM cards with their respective mobile network operators, which is designed to capture the identity of mobile phone subscribers for identity and security management. As a condition for the purchase or activation of a pre-paid SIM card, the user is asked to provide personal information as well as a valid ID.
He therefore called on Mobile Operators in what he fondly described as “Ministerial Order #1” to have all Sims registered within the next ninety (90) days.
However, facilitating the creation of an extensive database of user information, many people are of the opinion that mandatory SIM registration places individuals at risk of being tracked or targeted, and having their private information misused. SIM registration undermines the ability of users to communicate anonymously and one’s right to privacy. This poses a threat to vulnerable groups, and facilitates surveillance by making tracking and monitoring of users easier for law enforcement authorities.
In his Statement, the Honorable Minister allied the fears by stating that I am in favor of the mandatory registration of cell phone SIM cards will safeguard our national security, deter the sending of malicious messages by devious persons and can easily trace lost cell phones.