U.S. Gov Wants to Track Pre-Paid Phones
May 26, 2010, 12:32 PM by Eric M. Zeman
A new bill unveiled by U.S. lawmakers today takes aim at the anonymity of pre-paid cell phones. The bill would require buyers of pre-paid cell phones to show proof of identity when purchasing new phones, and the service provider would be required to retain that information so phone users can be identified more easily. Pre-paid cell phones can often be purchased with cash and without a credit check. New York Senator Chuck Schumer said, "This proposal is overdue because for years terrorists, drug kingpins and gang members have stayed one step ahead of the law by using prepaid phones that are hard to trace." Schumer pointed out that the alleged Times Square bomb plotter, Faisal Shahzad, used a pre-paid cell phone, meaning his identity could not be discovered through cell phones records as it is with post-paid users. Senator John Cornyn added, "While most Americans use pre-paid mobile devices lawfully, the anonymous nature of these devices gives too much cover to individuals looking to use them for deviant, dangerous means." The bill needs to be ratified by congress before it could become law.
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Comments
How many more rights and personal liberities will we lose in the name of terrorism
Terrorist are winning the wars. Not because of what's happening in Iraq or Afghanistan but because of what happening here on the home front. We are losing what we know as personal liberties and freedom which after all is what they want. Our country is slowly becoming more aligned with theirs as the government takes more control over what we do in our daily lives. Now I'm a STAUNCH liberal who supports BIG government and equality & personal freedoms across the board, in all areas. I however cannot help but wonder how much we will lose before we the people realize what is going on.
Seriously...it's ridiculous. maybe next they'll have gps built into new pairs of underwear. because underwear can be used as a bomb now. because of the underwear bomber. so lets have consumers brandish proof of ID for underwear.
You fail.... lol this has nothing to do with the Constitution and no one is forcing you to buy a phone.
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Watch prepaid sales go WAY WAY down if this happens
I'm not down with this proposal. Everyone has a right to privacy.
Then the government will come up with some other crap!
yup..
Please tell me you're not serious with this post.
1). If you are conducting yourself legally, you have nothing to worry about.
2) This is already done with Postpaid. Why should Prepaid be exempt? If you are postpaid, I would be more upset that ...
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1). If you are conducting yourself legally, you have nothing to worry about.
2) This is already done with Postpaid. Why should Prepaid be exempt? If you are postpaid, I would be more upset that ...
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There is the comment people use that reads something like...."if it saves just one life it is worth it"!
Sounds good. But where will that stop? If we drop the speed limit to 20 mph. As if it saves just one life????
Come on. Where do the rights t...
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Sounds good. But where will that stop? If we drop the speed limit to 20 mph. As if it saves just one life????
Come on. Where do the rights t...
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Lets just put a barcode/microchip in our right hand/forehead...
Seriously.
If we are not heading this direction I am completely crazy.
I wonder who the Anti-Christ will be?
If we are not heading this direction I am completely crazy.
I wonder who the Anti-Christ will be?
Don't give them any ideas lol!
You're right though, we are heading in this direction. If you study the Bible prophecies you'll see that this is on the horizon. It may not be in our lifetime but it wouldn't suprise me if it did. "Big Brother" has...
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You're right though, we are heading in this direction. If you study the Bible prophecies you'll see that this is on the horizon. It may not be in our lifetime but it wouldn't suprise me if it did. "Big Brother" has...
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Actually, imagine how easy it would be to find your child if they were to get lost or at the very worse: abducted.
While you may Jest, it has been pitched to government by many parents over the last decade, to have chips inserted into infants at ...
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While you may Jest, it has been pitched to government by many parents over the last decade, to have chips inserted into infants at ...
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drug dealers are the scum of the earth
muchdrama said:
...now maybe this'll help authorities put a crimp in drug dealing.
Unless it's pot. I've got no problem with pot. But the hard stuff that kills people? Yeah, I've got a problem with that.
Pre-pai...
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What about the children?
Right now anyone can buy a prepaid phone in a plastic bubble off the wal-mart shelf and follow the directions for self activation. If ID is required, what about kids who are too young to have a license/learner's permit? Can they present a school ID or passport? Or will there be an age limit on purchasing a phone?
Technically, there already SHOULD be. A minor can't be bound to a contract. Even though prepaid phones don't typically have a yearly term, there are still terms and conditions that are agreed to, which constitute a legally binding contract.
So when this law goes into effect will cell phones be like cigarettes? You can't buy one unless you are over 18?
Technically, there already SHOULD be. A minor can't be bound to a contract. Even though prepaid phones don't typically have a yearly term, there are still terms and conditions that are agreed to, which constitute a legally binding contract.
So when this law goes into effect will cell phones be like cigarettes? You can't buy one unless you are over 18?
I work at an indirect Verizon store. Our VZW account manager says that we should not be selling prepaid phones to people under 18 for that very reason: there are still legally binding conditions which people under 18 cannot agree to. We don't get many...
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Its just plain stupid!!!
This is another stupid "national security thing" that will be a pain in the butt to monitor, cost everyone a lot, and provide no real security.
Guess what a real terrorist is going to steal a phone or figure out how to get one with an assumed name, or do his thing and not care if you have his name, because he blows himself up.
The US can't even keep Millions upon Millions of "Undocumented" aliens with no motivation to kill us out of the country. They have cell phones, drive cars, work all, without real social security numbers. So how are they going to put a dent on motivated homicidal terrorists, or highly motivated criminals use of cell phones. Just attention grabbing idiots along with anyone who think that this is w...
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Guess what a real terrorist is going to steal a phone or figure out how to get one with an assumed name, or do his thing and not care if you have his name, because he blows himself up.
The US can't even keep Millions upon Millions of "Undocumented" aliens with no motivation to kill us out of the country. They have cell phones, drive cars, work all, without real social security numbers. So how are they going to put a dent on motivated homicidal terrorists, or highly motivated criminals use of cell phones. Just attention grabbing idiots along with anyone who think that this is w...
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Should be enforced by the carriers anyway
This really shouldn't have come to government intervention; this should have been in place already. I know the carrier I deal with requires that I see ID anytime I talk about a customer's account. Having your name on file and being required to present your ID actually PROTECTS the phone owner's privacy. Otherwise, anyone could try to question the carrier and get information about your account. If you steal someone's prepay phone, and they didn't have their name on the account, You could call customer service and say you forgot the passcode. They would text the phone, and as long as you could read the text you could reset the passcode and then have full access to that account, stealing the number and any airtime available. Seems to me that if...
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Right to Privacy vs Anonymity
The debate on this forum has been largely off-topic. This law doesn't restrict your privacy. The content of your communication becoming public would violate your privacy. Registering your phone number under your name takes away your anonymity.
We have a right to privacy, but do we have a right to anonymity? The fact is, the cellular networks we use aren't a God given right. They are a technological innovation owned and operated by private companies. If we want to talk about rights, Doesn't the company who owns the towers, who issues the phone number, who licenses the spectrum, who markets and manages the handsets, have a right to know the name of their own customers?
Noone has a problem with contract customers having their line registered...
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We have a right to privacy, but do we have a right to anonymity? The fact is, the cellular networks we use aren't a God given right. They are a technological innovation owned and operated by private companies. If we want to talk about rights, Doesn't the company who owns the towers, who issues the phone number, who licenses the spectrum, who markets and manages the handsets, have a right to know the name of their own customers?
Noone has a problem with contract customers having their line registered...
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Ridiculous!
First the lady at the BMV told me I have to put this piece of metal on the front and back of my car, just so they knew it was allowed to be on the road and could trace who it belonged to. And now this! What kind of world are we living in?
SEM said:...
First the lady at the BMV told me I have to put this piece of metal on the front and back of my car, just so they knew it was allowed to be on the road and could trace who it belonged to. And now this! What kind of world
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Loophole
Silly people.
Determined wrong-doers that depend on this as their communication can easily buy pre paid phones from other countries and use them on compatible networks here.
Determined wrong-doers that depend on this as their communication can easily buy pre paid phones from other countries and use them on compatible networks here.
True. But I for one will not activate a phone without a valid ID. I won't even take an expired ID for a prepaid account!
Not sure why everyone thinks this is such a big deal. Contract phones have been traceable for ever.
Would you prefer that th...
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Not sure why everyone thinks this is such a big deal. Contract phones have been traceable for ever.
Would you prefer that th...
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sure, but not because you have a phone u can use it, u stil need to activate it(cdma phones) or have a sim card(gsm) that needs to be registered.
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The only people who will be affected are the law abiding citizens. Same as the anti-gun laws, criminals will still get them and use them no matter how many laws are on the books. The OP is right, just get a phone from another country that has internat...
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pay phone next?
pay phone next?
nothing to hide, so let them?
so you let them search your car, house, strip search without warrant?
nothing to hide, so let them?
so you let them search your car, house, strip search without warrant?
Yep, and while we're at it let's blow something else out of proportion!!
everything the government has been doing lately seems to taking away our rights.
Umm, do payphones even still exists? 🤣
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privacy my ass
I'm all for this. Quite frankly the only people that have a problem with this are the ones buying prepaid to use for illegal activities. I've never had anyone object to giving me their information when buying it for a kid or elderly parent. Its the shady characters that have a problem with this. Drug Dealers and terrorists dont have any rights in my book.
edzero said:...
I'm all for this. Quite frankly the only people that have a problem with this are the ones buying prepaid to use for illegal activities. I've never had anyone object to giving me their information when buying it for
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It's a good thing the rest of us don't live by your book.
Privacy is either a right, or it isn't
If it isn't, then EVERY SINGLE HUMAN BEING'S PERSONAL INFORMATION SHOULD ALWAYS BE MADE PUBLICALLY AVAILABLE 24-7, INCLUDING ONE'S GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION.
That happens, I'm taking the big sleep.
That happens, I'm taking the big sleep.
Wow, calm down bro ... blowing things a little out of proportion!
Seriously? no posts on this?!
This is absurd. theres plenty of ways to conceal phone registration identity. this bill will do nothing but infringe on our privacy rights. as long as the physical security of airports and other "protected" facilities are inadequate, we will be attacked. thanks homeland security..... for slowly deteriorating the rights of amerikan people....
Clearly, if you have any negative opinions of this, you are one of the "terrorists, drug kingpins and gang members" who wish to go on doing your evil duties.
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just want to comment on your inadequate security comment.
is it possible that these terrorists are just determined?
is it possible that these terrorists are just determined?
Wrong answer...
Why would terrorists or drug kingpins or anyone else give their proper info and get a prepaid phone? Do they use their own car when doing a bank robbery? Criminals don't worry about the law. I don't want my every action tracked.
Why not make every wifi hotspot require picture ID to log onto it? Or require you to submit an id when buying food from a store? Sad, sad, sad.
Why not make every wifi hotspot require picture ID to log onto it? Or require you to submit an id when buying food from a store? Sad, sad, sad.
How about we just write down the name of everyone we smile, say hello, greet or come in contact with. That includes blogging. We can then submit this yearly with our taxes so the government can make sure we are interacting only with people in our cast...
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