Buying a phone without giving up your identity may soon become impossible in the US
The US Federal Communications Commission is considering a proposal that would require telecommunications providers to verify customer identities using government-issued IDs. Privacy advocates argue this could exclude vulnerable populations and create a government-mandated registry of all phone users.
Why it matters
This proposal represents a significant shift in digital privacy and access, potentially impacting the rights of unhoused and marginalized individuals.
The days of buying a quick prepaid phone at a gas station or activating a mobile line anonymously in the US may soon be over. According to a report by Fortune, the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is currently weighing a new proposal that would require all telecommunications carriers and Voice over IP (VoIP) providers to verify a customer’s identity before activating or renewing their service.The report says that under draft proposal FCC 26-27, adopted on April 30, companies would be mandated to collect every customer's full name, physical address, government-issued ID number and an alternate phone number.
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