Wireless carriers to create database to fight phone theft (by tracking them)

[onehandle]

Source: Reuters

The nation's major wireless providers have agreed to a deal with the U.S. government to build a central database of stolen cellphones—part of a broad effort to tame an explosion of thefts nationwide.

The database, which the wireless companies will build and maintain, will be designed to track phones that are reported as lost or stolen and deny them voice and data service. The idea is to reduce crime by making it difficult or impossible to actually use a stolen device, reducing resale value.

FCC officials said the centralized database will allow consumers to notify their wireless provider of a theft and in turn their provider will block the device from being used again.

Legislation backed by Senator Charles Schumer would also make it a federal crime to tamper with the unique IDs in an effort to deter attempts to evade the database.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/u-wireless-carriers-create-database-fight-phone-theft-040122772.html

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Personally, I choose to make my phone trackable by me by activating 'Find My iPhone.' I have this activated on my iPad and Mac as well.

I suspect that many at DU would not so much want this, involuntarily.

[groundloop]

1. I think this is probably a good idea...

If my phone gets stolen I'd like to get the satisfaction of knowing the thief won't be able to use it after I call and report it stolen.

[tru]

2. how easy is it to tamper with the ids?

Is this just for show?

[Enrique]

3. how is phone theft a federal matter?

bike theft is a huge problem too, I've had a number of bikes stolen, I never thought the feds should get involved in that.

[Duer 157099]

4. because there's a side agenda, of course

"we're doing this for your safety!"

Yeah, right.

[Chakaconcarne]

5. Isn't this just a way to get the public

to support phone companies / government tracking their every move?

[FiveGoodMen]

7. Undoubtedly

[damyank913]

8. Like they can't anyway?

I often wonder how many of those cams are actually watching me. Not a conspiracy theorist, but the NSA's capabilities are scary.

[dembotoz]

6. sounds good but boy it makes me nervous

will make buying a used cell phone much more creative if you have to worry about a past owner turning it into a paper weight.


so the crooks and the gov can both screw you.

wonderful

[drm604]

9. That article doesn't say anything about tracking them.

They way it works is that if you report your phone as stolen, it's serial number is entered in the database. If someone tries to activate a phone that's in the database, they won't be able to. This will eliminate the market for stolen cellphones, since they will be worthless once reported stolen.

This has nothing to do with tracking the position of the phone.