Earlier quoted context omitted.
If you don’t know the phone is tracking you, how do you decide to leave the phone at home?
Well you might forget it or decide you don't want it anymore for unrelated reasons, thereby inadvertently solving the problem of being tracked, that you didn't know you had! I've been taking you literally, just for giggles, but I actually get what you're talking about. But I only said the solution to being tracked is to separate from the phone. You're saying that's not a good solution to the problem because it doesn'…
Saudi Arabia tracks runaway women by cellphone IMEI
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Re: Saudi Arabia tracks runaway women by cellphone IMEI
#162I remember back in the 90's, when Intel was going to introduce a unique identifier in their processors that could be used for authentication purposes, it caused a huge uproar and Intel backed down. [0] Having a hardware embedded unique ID that can be (is) used for tracking a known persons location at all times is probably the most intrusive privacy violation we've ever had. That we willingly carry these things around…
The IMEI identifies a device. It is, or should be, useful to lock stolen phones, though it can obviously be used to track someone who keeps the same phone even if they change SIM card. The IMSI identifies the subscriber (and/or the SIM card) even if you change phone. As long as people are able to call and be called and as long as people need to be billed there has to be a reliable form of identification. This is not…
Secrecy of user nyms is trivially solved by existing mix networks (eg TOR onion services). Network access/billing could be solved by blinded signature tokens or some other untraceable bearer instrument. Implementing latter would take cooperation from the network provider, or at least an MVNO and SIM manufacturer, but it is indeed possible.