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Proposed Law Would Require ID To Buy Prepaid Phones

Posted by timothy on from the stamps-too-because-of-ransom-notes dept.

Hugh Pickens writes "The Washington Post reports that Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) and Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) have introduced legislation that would require buyers to present identification when purchasing a prepaid cellphone and require phone companies to keep the information on file, as they do with users of landline phones and subscription-based cellphones. '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,' says Schumer. Civil liberties advocates have concerns about the proposal, saying there must be a role for anonymous communications in a free society, adding that the space for such anonymous or pseudonymous communications has been narrowed since pay phones, for example, have largely disappeared."

6 of 615 comments (clear)

  1. Signal strength: [Y__] by tepples · · Score: 0, Troll

    Or use a phone/SIM purchased outside the US or use a stolen phone, etc.

    If your SIM was purchased outside the United States, expect zero bars of signal.

  2. Re:Already being done in India and South Africa by kevinNCSU · · Score: 0, Troll

    India implemented this law before they had their terrorist attacks last year and it sure did a lot to prevent those eh?

    It also won't stop GINGIVITIS!!!

    Just saying, that's about as on topic as complaining it's worthless b/c it didn't stop armed assailants from scuba diving into the country and then opening fire in a hotel.

  3. Re:include 'common-sense' returns false. by sznupi · · Score: 0, Troll

    That's what we do, balancing some limits on freedom of everybody with targeting mostly stupid, also destructively stupid, criminals.

    --
    One that hath name thou can not otter
  4. Gee, this will be tough to get around by kimvette · · Score: 1, Troll

    So, now ter'rists will have to resort to using mobile phones bought elsewhere, or stealing phones. Good thing this bill is being proposed because it will stop terrorism for sure.

    HEY ASSHOLES! Want to know what would end domestic terrorism? Deporting the fucking illegal aliens, engage in profiling in airports (rather than harassing soccer moms and 85-yr-old grannies) and closing the Mexican border!

    --
    The Christian Right is Neither (Christian nor right). See: Matthew 23, Matthew 25, Ezekiel 16:48-50
  5. Re:Yep by sznupi · · Score: 0, Troll

    Hypothetically yes, if particular law (part of the constitution, I believe?) was worded in just the proper way. So why it isn't?

    --
    One that hath name thou can not otter
  6. Re:Yep by jcr · · Score: 0, Troll

    It will be justified under the 'interstate commerce' clause

    Rationalized, not justified.

    -jcr

    --
    The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."