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Rep. Speier Wants To Register Every Prepaid Phone Purchase
Techdirt ^ | 3/28/16 | Tim Cushing

Posted on 03/29/2016 9:00:27 AM PDT by Cyberman

First, the legislators came for encrypted phones, because terrorists were apparently using encryption. (Except they weren't.) Now, they're coming for prepaid phones. Sure, customers will still be able to buy prepaid phones. They'll just have to "register" with their local retailer in order to do so.

A bill proposed in congress this week would require that all users provide identification and register prepaid ‘burner’ phones upon purchase....
Even if this passes, it will do little to allow law enforcement agencies to follow up on burners recovered after attacks. Criminals and terrorists won't be presenting identification -- at least not theirs -- to retailers. In fact, they're going to do what they've done before: use straw purchasers or buy directly from resellers who fall outside of the bill's likely purview -- like individuals or online retailers.

This will have little investigative worth, but it will generate a ton of records on people who don't have any option but to buy prepaid phones, whether it's due to credit issues or a lack of verifiable identification. Many won't have the ID options requested, like credit/debit cards. Some may not have state ID/Social Security cards either. Adding this requirement will just inflict further difficulties on people whose lives are filled with difficulties already....

(Excerpt) Read more at techdirt.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government; News/Current Events; Technical
KEYWORDS: bigbrother; phonescellphones; privacy
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To: vette6387

“She wa shot by the followers of Reverend Jim Jones.”

As I said, she was shot by commies. Why do you think Mr. Jones called it the “People’s Temple”? You know, like the “People’s Republic of China”....


21 posted on 03/29/2016 11:45:35 AM PDT by Boogieman
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To: Buckeye McFrog
she was shot in Guyana, so the obvious solution is to work for gun control here?

"There's more light here."

22 posted on 03/29/2016 11:58:24 AM PDT by Cyberman
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