Guyana's parliament has passed two controversial bills that would authorize wiretapping and force cell-phone providers to register clients to fight crime. (more) (background) (GSM Bugs)
Why is this important?
The wiretap part is commonplace. The know your customer part, however, is new and innovative.
This legislation was created to eliminate anonymity. It closes a crater-sized government surveillance loophole created by promotional SIM-card giveaways and pre-paid cell phones.
This is also the very same loophole which allows GSM bugs and trackers to operate with impunity. Even if discovered, you don't know to whom they belong.
FutureWatch...
• Guyana's new law will kick-start legislation rewrites worldwide.
• GSM bugs and real-time trackers will become riskier to use.
• Criminals will use fake ID's or alternate communications.
• Expect a run on current pre-paid phones and SIM cards.
Same Day.
Different country...
UK - Everyone who buys a mobile telephone will be forced to register their identity on a national database under government plans to extend massively the powers of state surveillance.
Phone buyers would have to present a passport or other official form of identification at the point of purchase. Privacy campaigners fear it marks the latest government move to create a surveillance society.
A compulsory national register for the owners of all 72m mobile phones in Britain would be part of a much bigger database to combat terrorism and crime. Whitehall officials have raised the idea of a register containing the names and addresses of everyone who buys a phone in recent talks with Vodafone and other telephone companies, insiders say.
The move is targeted at monitoring the owners of Britain’s estimated 40m prepaid mobile phones. They can be purchased with cash by customers who do not wish to give their names, addresses or credit card details. (more)
