Cross-sector collaboration aims to improve scam detection, standardize threat reporting, and expand digital literacy nationwide, amid rising scam exposure trends.
In a 13 November 2025 summit in the Philippines on digital nation security, key stakeholders discussed advancing consumer protection and digital trust in the country’s rapidly growing digital economy.
The event had brought together government officials, telecom operators, technology firms, and financial institutions to explore collaborative approaches for enhancing online security and tackling scams.
Event organizer GSM Association (GSMA) emphasized the importance of cross-sector cooperation to address evolving digital threats. A new pilot project, the GSMA APAC Cross-Sector Anti-Scam Taskforce (ACAST) Combating Scams Foundry Project, was announced. This initiative aims to improve threat intelligence sharing among mobile operators, regulators, technology companies, and financial sector partners through anonymized data analysis. The project will be tested in a proof-of-concept phase expected in early 2026.
At the event, mobile network operators in the Philippines, including PLDT/Smart, Globe Telecom, and DITO, also introduced new authentication services aligned with the GSMA’s Open Gateway initiative. These services aim to reduce fraud risks by silently verifying subscriber identities and detecting SIM-swap attempts in real time.
According to various GSMA sources, social media is now the leading channel for fraudsters looking to scam victims in the Philippines, putting it ahead of text messages, OTT messaging apps and voice calls.
Said GSMA’s Head (Asia-Pacific), Julian Gorman: “The Philippine’s digital economy depends on trust. Our latest evidence shows that trust is being eroded faster than it is being rebuilt. Industry and government must move from isolated initiatives to fully coordinated, data-driven defence if we are to protect consumers and sustain the country’s digital-growth story.”
The association has also urged the country’s stakeholders across banking, telecoms, e-commerce and government to:
- Standardize threat-reporting and cyber hygiene practices, ensuring rapid, multi-channel takedown of scam vectors
- Leverage telecom data insights and Open Gateway APIs for real-time fraud detection
- Expand public awareness and digital literacy campaigns targeting high-risk and vulnerable groups
- Align data-protection and consumer-rights frameworks to enable secure cross-border services envisioned in the forthcoming ASEAN Connectivity Strategic Plan 2026–2035
