Proposed Bill Would Require IDs for Prepaid Cell Phones

Proposed Bill Would Require IDs for Prepaid Cell Phones

I clicked on this article thinking "Well well well, more privacy to be taken away, and of course it will be forced upon the masses making them think it will be for their own good."

And then I actually read the article and see this...

Senator Chuck Schumer (D-New York) and Senator John Coryn (R-Texas) have proposed a piece of legislation that would require consumers to present an ID before purchasing a prepaid cell phone, and would force direct providers to keep those customers’ information on file for 18 months after deactivation. The bill comes on the heels of the failed Times Square bombing by Faisal Shahzad, who purportedly used a prepaid phone to arrange the purchase of the Nissan Pathfinder used in the plot.

“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 told the Washington Post. Landline and monthly subscription cell phone providers both keep track of their customers’ identities, and countries like Germany, Norway and Switzerland already have similar laws on the books for prepaid phones.

Some privacy advocates are already up in arms about the implications of the bill. But, before you start whipping out the Big Brother/panopticon/police state rhetoric, we really don’t think that this legislation, if passed, would affect the majority of consumers. Schumer and Coryn want the ability to track the one person out of a million who would pose a grievous threat; they don’t want to listen in on your winsome calls to your mom for another care package of Easy Mac and tube socks.

Read the full article here

I really just have to say "LOL" at that, seriously. If anyone thought the NY car bomb was a false flag, well guess what? It sure looks like it was, and some things are just now starting to fall into place. Do I think they'd take the chance of killing thousands of people over a bill to get information from people who buy prepaid phones? No not really... well... maybe

And at the end of the last paragraph I added in this thread, you see they're talking about how they wont bother consumers etc etc, but common! We all know this bill will be abused to the fullest extent if it is allowed.

Every year our privacy is taken down another notch, it all really started big time after 9/11, but now it continues and because the government and others who influence our government have spread out these 'bills' a bit more people don't seem to be putting 1+1 together as much anymore.

NEWS FLASH!!! - They're still taking away our privacy and our rights! Do not forget this, and do not allow this!

[edit on 30/5/2010 by highlyoriginal]

NOPE I THINK ITS A GREAT IDEA!!!!!!!

think of all the criminals who use these prepaid phones for their crimes now we will be able to keep tabs on those people no more loop hole

Keep trading those freedoms Americans. You don't need them. After all the government is keeping you safe. Don't you feel safe?

But seriously, why would we want a cheap means of communication the government can't trace? That would just be stupid to not have authorities enabled to listen or track our every conversation.

[edit on 30-5-2010 by PatesHatriots]

Do you have to be over 16 or 18 to purchase a prepaid phone card now? If not, would this prevent that since those don't necessarily have IDs?

Also, what would suffice as an ID?

I say, despite the terrorist connection, we don't need this and its bad for America.

Yea, it starts here, then there is a 50% surcharge to use a pre-paid phone; then you start getting flyers from AT&T "join the country's biggest 3G network" (hey wait I never gave AT&T my address).

The government hates being out of the loop. They want to know who you're talking to, what you're talking about, what websites you visit, what you buy, what kind of porn you're into, etc.

Additionally, never trust anything attached to the name Schumer (D-Wall Street). He is the bankster's go to man on the hill and is a truly vile person ("We need a new bill of rights" type stuff).

[Ed. I use a disposable phone and it saves nearly $1500/yr in phone bills - the telecoms can't afford to lose that kind of revenue en masse]

Here in South Africa thats already in place. Bought a pay as you go for my daughter last week, can only be used after you present your ID and proof of residence, a utility bill or something.

They know who you are, who your friends are, what you say to them, when you say it.

They were only practicing here, they got the system fine tuned now. For you.

oh wow, deja vu
I could have sworn this
article was already posted
once this week, hmmmm

Might be something that would help keep the illegals out of the US.

Many of the illegals around where i live use cell phones to call home to mexico.
because they have to have ID to get a land line hooked up and and many don't want the government to know where they live.

So I have to ask,

They get a fake ID and buy the phone and then...?

Is that where the National ID comes in? Because they will NEVER be able to counterfeit on of those, will they?!

These people are pure morons and anybody who supports them need to do a little more thinking beyond their knee-jerk reactions.

After-all, we would be entirely safe after 9-11 right?! No more terrorist attempts since then right?!

Give me a break. And while you're at it how about some of my rights back.

reply to post by Mikey Sly



Exactly. You could use a fake ID (since they can't just accept a drivers license because not every single person has one, and they can still be faked as well anyway), and use the phone to do your bidding with others who have bought such phones with fake ID's, and by the time they know they were fake whatever said people were up too would be accomplished.

Either that or people wont bother with the damn phones anymore and just use other means of communication.

This will not stop people from selling drugs, or making calls "home" to wherever. All it is going to do is create more power in the hands of the government, and honestly, if you think they need any more power, then smash your head into a wall because you're obviously not thinking clearly.

reply to post by highlyoriginal


in oz id is required for pre-paid phones as well as sim packs and has been inplace for aprox 3 yrs now as well as pre paid internet. soon id for everything.

Originally posted by eyeinoz
reply to post by highlyoriginal

 

in oz id is required for pre-paid phones as well as sim packs and has been inplace for aprox 3 yrs now as well as pre paid internet. soon id for everything.

I didn't know that, I didn't even think that the state could mandate such things... pretty lame.

How is this any different from having to show your ID when you get a cell phone with a 2-year contract? The only difference I see is that this is for a pre-pay service instead of a 'trap you for two years with a monthly bill and early disconnect fee' service. Having to show an ID to turn on a pre-paid phone isn't the end of the world people.

This is nothing new. Most countries around the world have been doing this for years.

in Turkey it was worse. I had to buy a local phone as my own phone was locked to my provider. so when I put my chip in the Turkish phone, it worked. for 2 weeks!! then got blocked. I was told that it any foreign lines used on a phone recognized as a "Turkish" phone could only work for 2 weeks. (average holiday length) and if you wanted longer you had to buy a Turkish sim card!!

To be honest I thought you already had to provide ID to buy a sim card in the US??

Although to be honest I don't feel that presenting my id when I buy a sim has reduced my freedoms in any way. I would say that only the criminals have something to fear from this, but then they will probably just just a fake ID

Hmmm ...

Terrorists , drug dealers , criminals use prepaid phones to communicate , so let's take away everyone's privacy by making them show i.d.

Terrorists on 9/11 used box-cutters to highjack planes , so let's make everyone show i.d. when purchasing box-cutters .

Terrorists from 9/11 had copies of the Koran , everyone needs to show i.d. when purchasing one .

Drug dealers wear rolex watches and plenty of 'bling' . Everyone should have i.d. to buy these ...

Gang members dress in the latest hip-hop fashion , everyone needs i.d. to buy these clothes ...

Shoes , automobiles , dental work , liquor , beer , anything that criminals partake of should require i.d. ?

Duct tape , dental floss , hanes underwear ...

For those of you who see no harm in this - wake the **** up !

reply to post by okbmd


The major difference that your fear-mongering post overlooks between all the items you mentioned and a phone is that to buy a cell phone with a service plan you already have to show ID. This would just extend the need for ID to cell phones without service plans. Of all the things to flip out over because they limit our rights, this isn't one of them.

reply to post by Jenna


We are all very much aware of the fact that you need to show i.d. when buying a cell phone with a service plan , but thank you for that very astute observation .

I wasn't 'flipping out' , I was exercising my right to freedom of speech through my opinion .

If I'm not entitled to voice my opinion , then practice what you preach and stop posting yours .

It is you and yours , that are eroding the freedoms in this country , by agreeing to everything TPTB are imposing on we the people .

Throw a frog into a pot of boiling water and it will immediately jump out .
Put a frog into a pot of cool water and slowly turn up the heat , it will set there until it's cooked .

Sounds to me like you should be 'well-done' by now .

reply to post by okbmd


A few problems.

1. I never said anything that even implied that you don't have the right to say what you like.
2. I don't agree with everything the government does or says, and I'm quite vocal about that both here and in the real world.
3. Not everything that is proposed or put in place can or will erode what rights we have left.

We have two choices, we can either freak out over everything and claim everything is an attempt to turn the US into something out of '1984'. Or we can use a little bit of common sense and reasoning and realize that not everything leads down that path. It's abundantly clear which choice you're making here. By all means, continue. Don't let common sense stand in the way.

reply to post by Jenna


The difference is when you buy a phone from a large company and you sign a contract you have to show ID because you are singing a contract. It is used for them to verify the person entering into a contract is you. It is so that should you ever default on your contract they can take you to court and verify you are the proper defendant. Showing your ID at that time has nothing to do with the government and it is absurd point to it as a reason why it should be enforced from the government on non contractual phone purchases. Infact, you are aptly able to go into any chain cell phone store and purchase a phone with no ID that is not connected to a contract. Unless you are purchasing the insurance or are paying with credit there is no need to present ID.

I would not get bent out of shape if I had to show ID. I often have to show ID when I buy alcohol, so I can't see the harm if I were to buy a prepaid cell phone.

I can't see how this program would be effective. Criminals and terrorists could simply use phony ID's to get their phones. They can also have a third person buy their prepaid phones for them.