SCUTTLEBUTT

Disconnected with reality

The push for free Internet for all Filipinos is again under scrutiny.

The Konektadong Pinoy Act is being viewed in the digital realm as having dangerous precedents, as it translates to favoring new entrants in the telco industry.

This will mean changing horses in midstream and does not augur well for the required foreign direct investments.

How can the proposed measure nudge foreign investors to enter the country when new rules can be crafted that negate the very nature of their billions in investments?

For the incumbent telcos, there is an unfair treatment that the proposal may inject, such as allowing a telco to cherry-pick the place of business.

There is also the danger of foreign interests encroaching into the very soul of our existence, as cyberthreats arise with those that were not vetted in these areas of concern.

Also, there is the danger of a two-tier policy. Worse, the law allows new entrants a two-year grace period to meet cybersecurity standards — even as digital threats grow more sophisticated by the day.

At a time when cybersecurity should be non-negotiable, the state appears willing to trade vigilance for velocity.

The Konektadong Pinoy Act may have been crafted with the best of intentions, but intentions alone do not safeguard national interests.