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by China's state press announced that it will soon issue new rules requiring the registration of mobile phones. Every issued mobile phone number will require a user to produce identification papers and personal information before it becomes active. This move will affect an estimated 200 million users that already have an active phone, but will now be required to register it with the state.
The move sounds simple and China claims that it is intended to crack down on telephone fraud, illegal text-messaging, and an out-of-control market for counterfeit and illegally obtained phones. However, in a country that already censors the Internet, one must wonder how far this will go. Is this act really aimed at protecting citizens, or is it yet another means for China to control her people?
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Unregistered cell phones are the best way to communicate if you are plotting against a government, or are just an ordinary criminal. I can walk into Best Buy, get a prepaid cell phone and put minutes on it with prepaid cards, all with cash, and never show any ID. That's a loophole that I hope someone in law enforcement has thought about.
With the proliferation of identity theft today, does registration really achieve anything? It really only keeps honest people honest. The type of criminals that are going to high profile targets will likely be techno savvy enough to incorporate the right types of counter-measures into their operations. How would I get around cell phone registration?
- steal the phone (flat out easiest)
- clone another user
- fake identity during purchase (neighbor, harmless kid, dead person)
- bribe someone inside
- break into database and change registration record
- buy the phone legitimately and report it stolen
- use the phone for wireless data and speak through encrypted VoIP via computer
- not use common carrier stuff for criminal communications!!!#
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The private sector by Brandon :: NR9 :: on 05 December 2005
What would be wrong with allowing the individual cellular companies to develop a registration process or some other method of securing the network or guarding against theft? Successfully doing so would give them a distinct business advantage and other companies would then follow suit.
Even if it could be accomplished in the private sector, I still wouldn't be against government intervention if they were more capable. However, I don't know how the federal government can hope to implement more effect cell phone security than the cell phone companies.
Silly, silly communists.