The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) of the Philippines issued Memorandum No. 12-12-2023 in December 2023, mandating the three major carriers Globe, Smart and DITO to deploy real-time SMS filtering systems for automatic detection and interception of scam messages. Non-compliant carriers will be fined 50,000 Philippine pesos per day.
This memorandum represents an intensified anti-SMS-scam initiative by the NTC. Its core requirement is that the three telecom operators must deploy real-time text-scrubbing systems to automatically detect and block scam SMS before they reach end users. Specific measures include blocking messages containing scam-related domain names, URLs or short links (such as bit.ly, tinyurl), and filtering SMS loaded with phishing and scam keywords. In terms of penalties, telecom operators failing to comply shall be imposed a daily fine of 50,000 Philippine Pesos (PHP 50,000) until rectification is completed.
The memorandum directly impacts the three major telecom operators, SMS aggregators and gateway service providers. In related developments, as early as 27 September 2023, NTC Commissioner Ella Blanca B. Lopez signed a revised memorandum directing operators to block SMS containing clickable domain names, URLs, short link services, Smart Links and QR codes. Globe publicly commended the NTC directive and stated that it had already taken the lead in blocking all P2P SMS with clickable links within its network back in September 2022.
