Our mobiles are a gateway to the world, holding news and entertainment, personal details and banking account information, friendships - even romances start there. Phones are a treasure trove of information, which is why governments in countries like the Philippines want to access them.

In this episode of 'Techtonic', host Chris Stokel-Walker speaks to Mong Palatino, former Filipino congressman, now activist and writer, about a new law requiring users to hand over their names and government IDs to register their SIM cards. Is this to police citizens, or is it a crack down on dissent? Mong tells Chris what it means to sign over your digital life to the authorities.

Producers: Christopher Hooton and Nicola Kelly

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