Laptop registration opposed

A proposal by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to have laptops registered has been called an overreaction that could violate the right to privacy.

Senator Francis Escudero said the proposal would give laptops the same status as guns and chainsaws the government keeps track of.

Speaking after a Senate hearing on proposed cybercrime laws, Escudero said requiring registration would be a hassle for laptop owners.

He said an alternative would be for law enforcement agencies to coordinate with internet service providers and telecommunication companies to monitor the devices.

"It would probably be easier for law enforcement agencies to monitor the Internet service providers. That way, whatever device is used -- laptops, cell phones -- can be monitored without violating anyone's privacy too much," he said.

Escudero said this would let the police track laptops without being too intrusive.

Senator Edgardo Angara, chairman of the Senate committee on science and technology committee, also predicted "tremendous" opposition to the proposed registration.

The proposal was made by the NBI's Anti-fraud and Computer Crimes Division who reported that cybercrime is difficult to trace because half of the Internet connections in the country is wireless.

Angara, author of the Anti-Cybercrime bill, earlier warned that cybercrime like identity theft and hacking must "be taken seriously at the highest level."

"Cybercrime is an actual danger to democracy, human rights and the rule of law," Angara warned.

By Jonathan de Santos