MANILA – FPJ Panday Bayanihan Party-List Rep. Brian Poe Llamanzares is leading the charge for the Secure Call Act, a groundbreaking bill designed to combat rampant voice call scams, caller ID spoofing, deepfake audio threats, and unauthorized recordings. The proposal, gaining traction in Congress as of December 2025, mandates telecommunications companies to implement advanced caller authentication systems while imposing stiffer penalties for violations.
Poe, a staunch advocate for digital safety, framed the legislation as urgent: “In this age of AI and sophisticated fraud, every call could be a trap—Secure Call Act will verify legitimate callers, block spoofed IDs, and protect Filipinos from voice cloning and privacy invasions.” Key features include:
- Mandatory Authentication: Telecoms must adopt international standards like STIR/SHAKEN protocols to certify caller identities.
- Anti-Spoofing Tech: Real-time blocking of manipulated or fake caller IDs.
- Stricter Penalties: Heavier fines and imprisonment for scam calls, deepfakes, and illegal recordings.
- Privacy Protections: Enhanced safeguards against misuse of voice data in AI-generated fraud.
The bill builds on Poe’s track record in tech governance, including his Philippine Artificial Intelligence Governance Act. It responds to millions of annual scam complaints—often involving fake bank or government calls—and rising deepfake incidents targeting individuals and elections.
Supporters, including cybersecurity experts and consumer groups, hail it as a “game-changer” for trust in communications. Telecom giants are studying feasibility, with potential costs offset by reduced fraud losses.
As scams erode confidence in everyday calls, Poe’s Secure Call Act aims to restore security—one verified ring at a time.
Bill Highlights Snapshot:
| Provision | Details |
|---|---|
| Authentication | STIR/SHAKEN mandatory for telecoms |
| Anti-Fraud | Block spoofing/deepfakes |
| Penalties | Increased for violations |
| Focus | Caller privacy & scam prevention |