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Germany to ban anonymous SIM cards[German]

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Re: Germany to ban anonymous SIM cards[German]

#11

Post by phillc73 »

DominikPeters wrote: post #10

Main points of the article: For purposes of terrorism prevention, the current German government wants to require sellers of SIM cards to check photo ID and ask for current address. If this happens, it will be (theoretically) impossible to own a German phone number that isn't connected to a name. The address data is supposed to be put into a searchable database allowing security officials to search for names even if t…

I think these checks are probably already pretty common in other parts of the world.

For at least the last three or four years in Australia there is a requirement to present Photo ID before buying a SIM card. I was quite surprised by this when I tried to buy a SIM at Sydney airport a few years ago.

I have no idea what the government is doing with the data nor how it is protected. At the time, I just wanted a local SIM and to be on my way.

Re: Germany to ban anonymous SIM cards[German]

#12

Post by Ambroos »

Is this so bad? I remember back in 2012 when I visited Berlin I had to register my SIM with my Belgian ID and address too. It only took a few minutes, it's not that much of a hassle. At the phone shop in Belgium where I work we were required to ask for a name and address too (but didn't check ID's for prepaid cards).

I doubt this will solve much terrorism-wise though. You can't expect phone shops to verify the validity of every foreign ID and address, just supplying fake data wouldn't be hard (and probably go unnoticed until it was 'too late').

Re: Germany to ban anonymous SIM cards[German]

#13

Post by dogma1138 »

DominikPeters wrote: post #10

Main points of the article: For purposes of terrorism prevention, the current German government wants to require sellers of SIM cards to check photo ID and ask for current address. If this happens, it will be (theoretically) impossible to own a German phone number that isn't connected to a name. The address data is supposed to be put into a searchable database allowing security officials to search for names even if t…

I had to bring my passport to get a pre-paid SIM card in Germany over 3 years ago, this isn't anything special.

The policy seems to be inconsistently applied tho, if you buy it at a large store they'll ask for an ID but you could also get the SIM cards at smaller kiosks and even stands at the airport (Libre mobile which is pretty much the provider for cheap migrant labor across Europe) they didn't seem to care that much.

Re: Germany to ban anonymous SIM cards[German]

#15

Post by dogma1138 »

Ambroos wrote: post #12

Is this so bad? I remember back in 2012 when I visited Berlin I had to register my SIM with my Belgian ID and address too. It only took a few minutes, it's not that much of a hassle. At the phone shop in Belgium where I work we were required to ask for a name and address too (but didn't check ID's for prepaid cards). I doubt this will solve much terrorism-wise though. You can't expect phone shops to verify the validi…

If you use a non-EU passport they'll take a copy of it and ask you to register where you are staying.

Re: Germany to ban anonymous SIM cards[German]

#16

Post by hartpuff »

Ambroos wrote: post #12

Is this so bad? I remember back in 2012 when I visited Berlin I had to register my SIM with my Belgian ID and address too. It only took a few minutes, it's not that much of a hassle. At the phone shop in Belgium where I work we were required to ask for a name and address too (but didn't check ID's for prepaid cards). I doubt this will solve much terrorism-wise though. You can't expect phone shops to verify the validi…

> Is this so bad?

A better question is will this stop terrorism? If the answer is no, or unlikely, then it's just yet another inconvenience (and invasion of privacy) for lots of innocent people.

Re: Germany to ban anonymous SIM cards[German]

#17

Post by azazqadir »

Ambroos wrote: post #12

Is this so bad? I remember back in 2012 when I visited Berlin I had to register my SIM with my Belgian ID and address too. It only took a few minutes, it's not that much of a hassle. At the phone shop in Belgium where I work we were required to ask for a name and address too (but didn't check ID's for prepaid cards). I doubt this will solve much terrorism-wise though. You can't expect phone shops to verify the validi…

I think this is a good move. Whether it can solve terrorism issue or not that does not mean the government can't even try.

Re: Germany to ban anonymous SIM cards[German]

#18

Post by cheshire_cat »

Ambroos wrote: post #12

Is this so bad? I remember back in 2012 when I visited Berlin I had to register my SIM with my Belgian ID and address too. It only took a few minutes, it's not that much of a hassle. At the phone shop in Belgium where I work we were required to ask for a name and address too (but didn't check ID's for prepaid cards). I doubt this will solve much terrorism-wise though. You can't expect phone shops to verify the validi…

Some vendors require you to show an ID but right now you can get many SIM-Cards that can be registered online or via phone call and the data provided doesn't get verified. That's the thing they want to change.

Re: Germany to ban anonymous SIM cards[German]

#19

Post by tomp »

azazqadir wrote: post #17
Ambroos wrote: post #12

Is this so bad? I remember back in 2012 when I visited Berlin I had to register my SIM with my Belgian ID and address too. It only took a few minutes, it's not that much of a hassle. At the phone shop in Belgium where I work we were required to ask for a name and address too (but didn't check ID's for prepaid cards). I doubt this will solve much terrorism-wise though. You can't expect phone shops to verify the validi…

I think this is a good move. Whether it can solve terrorism issue or not that does not mean the government can't even try.

How would this solve terrorism?

Re: Germany to ban anonymous SIM cards[German]

#20

Post by creshal »

phillc73 wrote: post #11
DominikPeters wrote: post #10

Main points of the article: For purposes of terrorism prevention, the current German government wants to require sellers of SIM cards to check photo ID and ask for current address. If this happens, it will be (theoretically) impossible to own a German phone number that isn't connected to a name. The address data is supposed to be put into a searchable database allowing security officials to search for names even if t…

I think these checks are probably already pretty common in other parts of the world. For at least the last three or four years in Australia there is a requirement to present Photo ID before buying a SIM card. I was quite surprised by this when I tried to buy a SIM at Sydney airport a few years ago. I have no idea what the government is doing with the data nor how it is protected. At the time, I just wanted a local SI…

> I think these checks are probably already pretty common in other parts of the world.

Germany is a bit touchy when it comes to measures like this. After the experiences of the Nazi regime, even things like a census or introduction of a TIN met massive, years long resistance.

One election gone wrong is all it takes and all those data will be used for genocide. Again.

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