Two citizen advocacy groups are expressing significant reservations about the proposed Konektadong Pinoy Bill, citing concerns it could inadvertently lead to a surge in online gambling and compromise the nation's digital security.

Citizens Crime Watch Internationale (CCWI) and Scam Watch Pilipinas issued separate statements prompted by reports that the KPB could loosen regulatory safeguards and allow questionable digital service providers, including those backed by foreign capital, to operate with less oversight.

Michelle Botor, founder and national chairman of CCWI, warned that beyond national security risks, the bill could inadvertently fuel a surge in access to illegal online gambling platforms.

"Without robust vetting and filtering mechanisms in place, the legislation may provide unregulated e-gaming operators with easier market entry through new, unmonitored digital infrastructure," Botor said.

"The Konektadong Pinoy legislation seeks to connect more Filipinos to internet, but if cybersecurity is treated as an afterthought, it also opens the door to serious threats - particularly from unregulated online gambling platforms," she added.

Botor cited that such platforms are increasingly used to lure people into fraudulent schemes, contributing to digital addiction, debt and the involvement of minors in illegal gambling. She argued that greater digital reach with weak filters could unintentionally normalize gambling behavior among youth and vulnerable populations if the KPB is enacted.

For its part, Scam Watch Pilipinas, while supporting the bill's goal of expanding nationwide internet access and modernizing digital infrastructure, cautioned that several provisions could expose the Philippines to escalating risks in cybersecurity and data privacy breaches.

A major point of concern for Scam Watch is the bill's inclusion of a three-year grace period for new Digital Technology and Infrastructure Providers (DTIPs). During this period, DTIPs would be allowed to operate without full compliance with existing cybersecurity and data privacy standards. The group warned this regulatory gap presents a "dangerous window of vulnerability."

"This grace period opens the door for hackers, scammers, and possibly even state-sponsored actors to exploit critical infrastructure and access sensitive citizen data," the group said.

Scam Watch also expressed concern over foreign-controlled entities gaining access to critical digital infrastructure, such as satellite gateways and cable landing stations, without stringent national security clearance. This, they warn, could heighten the risk of cyber espionage and strategic infiltration.

The group is calling for the immediate removal of the three-year grace period and the mandatory enforcement of existing cybersecurity and data privacy protocols before any DTIP begins operation.

They also recommend a comprehensive, multi-sector risk assessment covering cybersecurity, privacy and national security; mandatory vetting and clearance from national cybersecurity and security agencies for all entities involved in critical digital infrastructure; and harsher penalties for non-compliance or negligence in implementing protective measures.

"By embedding these essential safeguards into the legislation, the bill will better align with existing Philippine cybersecurity and data protection laws -- ensuring that the nation’s digital future is secured against rapidly evolving threats," Scam Watch Pilipinas said.