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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsHouse bill wants to crack down on prepaid 'burner' phones
As if we don't have enough government surveillance already, now we need more...
Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA, 14th), who represents the San Francisco and the Bay Area district, introduced the legislation this week requiring prepaid phone retailers to collect information on the buyer at the time of purchase, such as their name, address, and date of birth.
The information would be verified by a credit card, or a Social Security number or driving license number -- mirroring similar obligations on those who sign up for a long-term phone contract.
In a statement, the Democratic lawmaker said the draft bill, dubbed the Closing the Prepaid Mobile Device Security Gap Act of 2016 (or HR 4886), would help track terrorists and serious criminals because prepaid phones "can be purchased without identification and record-keeping requirements."
"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," said the statement.
http://www.zdnet.com/article/california-lawmaker-wants-to-crack-down-on-pre-paid-burner-phones/
EL34x4
(2,003 posts)But I can't recall the last place I saw a pay phone, let alone one that still had its handset attached.
Fla_Democrat
(2,547 posts)meow2u3
(24,772 posts)The handset was still on it, but try to pick it up to make a phone call and you get no dial tone, no nothing.
2naSalit
(86,775 posts)if that is passed. I refuse to give all that info for a damned phone.
XemaSab
(60,212 posts)People might use the US postal service for terrorism, so we need to read everyone's mail.
People might use DU for terrorism, so we need to monitor DU.
yourout
(7,532 posts)Quantess
(27,630 posts)dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)Terrorists breath air.
Air really should be made illegal.
Igel
(35,356 posts)That's how it works.
What we don't like, well, monitoring, limiting, and even preventing it to keep us safe is wonderful. The proper role of government is to govern, protect us from them, and provide.
What we do like, well, that's sacrosanct and there are no possible reasonable government interests to limit those rights. Even if they do kill people, keep that damned evil big government away from me.
Must have absolute right to free speech and privacy. Must ban speech and privacy I don't like because the ban won't affect me but will help me--hate speech, offensive speech, and any privacy that keeps me from knowing the real truth about government, business, history, etc., etc.
Works with guns, phones, drugs, speech, and pretty much everything else in a hyperpolarized society.
Yes, it means often I'm against things to achieve goals I like, and for things that hinder goals I like.
awoke_in_2003
(34,582 posts)but we won't do a damn thing about it. This country is fucked up
Auggie
(31,186 posts)JustAnotherGen
(31,879 posts)Most burners are stolen from the post paid MEIDs by social engineering, brute force attacks, stolen credit cards, and using the identities of homeless people (done in MO end masse this past December - full retail post paid going non pay).
She would do better to leave good people alone with their privacy, and focus on the global non pay tables (differs from the gsm stolen lost table used for individuals). But even then many countries have no will to honor it and won't ask their local carriers to honor it. So the devices are carried out on freight carriers back to China (sea men/women aren't checked) where they end up in the hands of the bad guys.
No - I disagree with what she's proposing. Besides it places undue burden on the national retailers and mom and pop shops that sell them.
JustABozoOnThisBus
(23,364 posts)No more buying guns at the local hardware store, no more ordering guns via the Sears catalog.
We regulate guns so they don't fall into the wrong hands.
We can do the same with phones.
Fumesucker
(45,851 posts)And those targets have never changed.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/nixon-drug-war-racist_us_56f16a0ae4b03a640a6bbda1?
JustABozoOnThisBus
(23,364 posts)I know it ain't me. I don't know how to get, operate, or pay for a burner phone. I don't know what a burner phone is. But if I was a bad guy, I assume I would just fill my trunk with the things.
JustAnotherGen
(31,879 posts)Who can make $100 per phone obtaining them for human traffickers, terrorists, foreign governments.
The answer is a stronger economy with jobs that pay a living wage. A complete bail out of the consumers still struggling under the mortgage bubble with underwater homes. A relief on college debt for those twenty somethings who could only get a customer service job making $10 an hour.
Reduce the amount of people trying to survive - don't restrict or invade the privacy of people who opt to not have a monthly relationship with a wireless carrier.
JustAnotherGen
(31,879 posts)My post Fraud management at major wireless carrier job says differently.
Post Fraud Review we (my team) saved $ 3.6 million in device losses last year after several hundred fraud reps reviewed. Then the $4 million we couldn't stop we get the call from CBP -
Was this stolen. Shipping out of xyz port to Ukraine. Takes a year to 18 months to get the point of contact US but I'm telling you - this is reality.
The best were the ones we tracked on sting that were triggered 3 miles from Foxconn!
Truth be told - I have a grudging respect for the fraudsters and crooks.
Orrex
(63,224 posts)We must monitor these dangerous implements of murder, because the last thing we need in this day and age is communication.
JustABozoOnThisBus
(23,364 posts)Limitation and registration, which can only work if we also criminalize the "straw-purchase" of cell phones.
noretreatnosurrender
(1,890 posts)to call your representatives and tell them to vote NO. And this is from a Democrat no less. I expect it of Republicans but what the hell! She must be hanging around Feinstein too much.
Liberal_in_LA
(44,397 posts)JustABozoOnThisBus
(23,364 posts)... signed,
NSA
Liberal_in_LA
(44,397 posts)IDemo
(16,926 posts)which serves no other purpose than as a tethered modem. For telephone purposes, my $10 flipper does the job.
Orrex
(63,224 posts)Tell you what, you congressional motherfuckers: I'll tell Tracfone my birthdate after you each give an itemized listing of all of your corporate sponsors along with your home phone number.
Fuck that.
Cal Carpenter
(4,959 posts)Seriously. There are so many things wrong with this idea that I don't even know where to start.
madville
(7,412 posts)Giving criminal enterprises another avenue for profit. Most violence surrounding drugs and prostitution for example is related to their illegality under current laws, making them profitable for organized crime.
NightWatcher
(39,343 posts)me b zola
(19,053 posts)FFS, how else can we be free?
whereisjustice
(2,941 posts)sell your activity to the highest bidder. It's pretty much confirmed that Government spying does not prevent terrorism. Big Data does help them Govt. design political strategies to help the Wall Street oligarchy aka big campaign donors, however.
That's the larger issue at work here. It's less about our safety and more about exploiting our lives for profit.
For example, knowing you buy a cheap prepaid phone will help Google and other sites design search results so that you don't get hits which are targeted at more affluent and "safe" web users.
It just gets worse from there, actually. As more and more of your personal information is made available for employers, local law enforcement, etc.
High tech discrimination will divide us. It's just another form of class wafare and its happening everywhere.
Warren DeMontague
(80,708 posts)Continuing a long tradition of dismantling the 4th amendment so that we can fill our prisons with the guys who sell dime bags.