DOJ urges telcos to use ‘kill-switch’ to protect cellphone subscribers

Facebook plans to move more features from its main mobile app into separate apps in 2015. Shanice Garcia / PCI.

MANILA — The Department of Justice (DOJ) has urged telecommunications companies (telcos) to use the so-called “kill-switch” feature to protect the cellphone subscribers.

DOJ Secretary Leila M. De Lima said that the use of “kill-switch” does not anymore require legislation or pass into law in the Congress because it should be the responsibility of the telcos to prevent crime and make sure that the technology is being used to address the issues involving peace and order.

The “kill-switch” is a software that can be activated even in a different place if the cellphone was lost or stolen.

When the “kill-switch” is activated, all the data, which are saved on the cellphone, will be deleted and the cellphone cannot anymore be used.