| Submit your comments on this article |
| Home Front: Politix |
| FCC Moving to Make Burner Phones Illegal Without Registration |
| 2026-06-27 |
| [ArsTechnica] Privacy advocates and domestic violence groups say ID mandate is a big mistake. A Federal Communications Commission proposal to collect more identifying information from phone users has drawn protests from privacy-focused groups and advocates for domestic violence survivors. The plan is ostensibly designed to thwart robocallers but could make it difficult for individuals to use prepaid phones that can protect their privacy, devices that are often referred to as burner phones. The FCC is seeking comment on the proposal to require phone companies to obtain and retain, at a minimum, “the name, physical address, government issued identification number, and an alternate telephone number of any new and renewing customer before granting access to its services.” Critics say this would prevent people from using prepaid phones without revealing their identities. Technology Safety Specialist Belle Torek of the National Network to End Domestic Violence told the FCC in a filing yesterday that “many of the behaviors and privacy-protective measures the Commission appears to view as suspicious are, for survivors, well-established and often life-preserving safety practices.” A similar group, the Kansas Coalition Against Sexual & Domestic Violence, told the FCC today that “implementation of these rules would harm victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, and stalking and actually create more harm for survivors trying to flee often deadly, crisis situations.” It said that “many victims and survivors do not have reliable access to identifying documents” and “cannot disclose their location when fleeing a perpetrator or when participating in address confidentiality programs.” |
| Posted by:Clem+Elmish4239 |
| #1 |
| Posted by: DooDahMan 2026-06-27 22:07 |