The government has 마련ed a legal basis to ban the manufacture and distribution of caller ID spoofing devices used in voice phishing crimes. It will also provide a subscription restriction service by default to all users to prevent fraudulent mobile phone sign-ups under another person’s name, and introduce measures to protect the public interest in connection with changes in the largest shareholder of facilities-based telecom operators.

The Ministry of Science and ICT said on Tuesday the cabinet approved an amendment to the Telecommunications Business Act containing those measures.

The amendment is a follow-up step to a comprehensive plan announced in August last year to eradicate voice phishing. It aims to block in advance caller ID spoofing and the opening of so-called burner phones used for voice phishing. It also seeks to protect the public-interest nature of telecommunications services, a national core infrastructure.

The manufacture and distribution of caller ID spoofing devices, including SIM boxes, will be banned. Existing law banned services that falsely display overseas numbers as domestic numbers or as numbers of national and public institutions, but the amendment expands the ban to the manufacture, import, distribution, sale and rental of caller ID spoofing devices. Violations will be punishable by up to 3 years in prison or a fine of up to 100 million won.

The subscription restriction service to prevent fraudulent mobile phone sign-ups under another person’s name will also be expanded. Until now it was provided only when users applied for it. It will be provided by default to all users when a contract is signed. Users can terminate the service if they want.

The scope of cases requiring approval for changes in the largest shareholder of facilities-based telecom operators will also be expanded. It will include involuntary largest shareholders who become the largest shareholder due to a reduction in a company’s capital or the disposal of shares held by other shareholders.

Choi Woo-hyuk (최우혁), director general for information security and network policy at the ministry, said the legal revision is expected to have a preventive effect against voice phishing crimes using caller ID spoofing and burner phones opened by stealing another person’s identity. He stressed it would help solidify the stability of telecommunications services, a national core infrastructure, and strengthen user protection.

Among the amendments, the ban on the manufacture and import of caller ID spoofing devices will take effect immediately upon promulgation. The remaining provisions will take effect 6 months after promulgation. The ministry plans to draw up subordinate regulations after collecting opinions from related industries and experts.