A NETWORK of digital advocates is asking regulators to investigate the spam text messages sent to motorcycle taxi riders allegedly by Grab-owned company Move It.
Digital Pinoys has requested “swift action” from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and the National Privacy Commission (NPC), according to a statement by its national campaigner Ronald B. Gustilo.
Move It and the NTC have been sought to comment on the matter but have yet to give their reply.
Mr. Gustilo asked the NTC and the NPC to ensure that the data used by Move It were not acquired illegally.
“They should explain as to how they were able to get hold of the data that they used,” he said about Move It’s accountability.
The spam text messages included an invitation to Move It’s Sept. 9 onboarding of new MC taxi drivers in its training facility in Marikina City.
“Based on the complaints of the riders, it is clear that the riders were unaware as to why they received text messages and that they did not want to,” Mr. Gustilo said, referring to posts by message recipients who claim that they have not transacted with Move It.
“We find it suspicious that Move It was able to send an invitation via text specifically to motorcycle taxi riders,” he said.
“With the government’s campaign against the proliferation of spam and scam texts, companies using these practices should be held accountable,” he added.
Digital Pinoys sought a review of the SIM registration law and an audit of the SIM registration process, which promised to curb the proliferation of spam and scam cases. — Miguel Hanz L. Antivola
