by Michael Smith (Veshengro)
The proposed law would require prepaid phone customers to register their personal details before purchasing a burner phone or SIM card.
The Closing of Prepaid Mobile Device Security Gap bill, introduced by Jonestown massacre survivor State Rep Jackie Speier, could make it harder for those hoping to communicate anonymously.
Retailers would be required to verify those details at purchase and keep a record of the details gathered. Despite hysteria surrounding encryption and its role in terrorism, the Paris attackers used prepaid phones to communicate rather than encryption.
"This bill would close one of the most significant gaps in our ability to track and prevent acts of terror, drug trafficking, and modern-day slavery," Speier said. And if anyone really believe that that is the reason then I do have some ocean-front property for sale in Arizona.
Terrorists and others wishing not to be tracked often use multiple burner phones, with some only using the phone once before moving on to another.
While the bill wouldn't prevent customers from using fake or stolen identification to buy the phones, it would make things more complicated for terrorists who are currently able to buy prepaid phones in bulk.
The bill is the latest in efforts by politicians to crack down on technology that does not allow for easy government access.
Earlier in the year, lawmakers in California and New York sought to ban the sale of phones that have full encryption.
So, I think we all can see where they are actually coming from, can't we? It has nothing at all to do with terrorists and fighting terrorism but all with government control over the people, plain and simple.
That is also the very same reason that the powers-that-be but rather should not be also want to – and they are trying their damnedest to get their way – ban encryption programs, encrypted messenger services, such as Telegram, and “hush” email services. Some of those latter have already ceased to operate as they operators decided rather shut down than to allow government access to the user data and emails.
Every time that you hear that government is doing this or that to make things harder for criminals and terrorists while going after services that you value and use think bull dust. It has nothing to do with fighting criminals and terrorists but everything, as we have said already, with total control and surveillance of the people. You and I are the targets, not some terrorist who may or may not even exist.
© 2016
