NBI wants laptops regulated

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has proposed legislation that would regulate laptops, SIM cards, and other devices used in connecting to the Internet. But this early, at least two senators have expressed opposition to it. "I can foresee tremendous opposition to this," said Sen. Edgardo Angara, chairman of the Senate science and technology committee that conducted a hearing on cybercrime bills Monday. According to Palmer Mallari, chief of the NBI Anti-fraud and Computer Crimes Division, regulating the use of laptops "would help law enforcement agencies in the fight against cybercrime." Mallari said during the hearing that law enforcers often have a difficult time tracing specific users who connect to the Internet through laptops and wireless connectivity. He said if the government requires users to register their devices used in connecting to the Internet, law enforcers will have an easier time tracing those who may be involved in certain cybercrimes. NBI Computer Crimes Unit chief Migdonio Congzon said that 50 percent of Internet connections in the country is wireless. Sen. Francis Escudero, who was also present during the Senate hearing, said the regulation of laptops is an "overreaction." "Masyadong hassle ang pagrerehistro kung saka-sakali ng individual laptop owners ng kanilang laptop (Individual laptop owners will find the registration of their devices too much of a task)," he said. Earlier, Senate Majority Floor Leader Vicente “Tito" Sotto III also pushed for the mandatory registration of SIM cards after initial investigations showed that a cellphone was used to detonate the bomb inside a Quezon City-bound Newman Goldliner bus last month. Five people were killed in the blast. - Kimberly Jane Tan/KBK, GMA News