Earlier quoted context omitted.
Free Wifis are a lot more scarce in Germany though.
https://freifunk.net/en/ The largest such network that I know of anywhere.
Check out https://seattlemesh.net/
Germany to ban anonymous SIM cards[German]
71–80 of 192 posts
Re: Germany to ban anonymous SIM cards[German]
#72Earlier quoted context omitted.
> 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.
> One election gone wrong is all it takes and all those data will be used for genocide. Again. Because first they'll come for the contractless? Why is it some people are incapable of discussing Germany without tiresomely invoking the Nazis?
Why is it some ppl always have to complain about that?
Re: Germany to ban anonymous SIM cards[German]
#73And again, a new measure that will affect everybody except criminals, who pay a drug addict to register hundreds of these cards.
Well, only the criminals that put some effort. Somewhat effective at tracking down the lazy criminals. Also, in places like Singapore, you can only own 5 Data SIMs before they start asking tougher questions. I wasn't aware there were countries that you could purchase data SIMs in without having to hand over passport/government ID, I'd just assumed that was a ubiquitous practice.
I've bought several sims in the UK and Ireland over the past year, and none of them have taken an ID.
Re: Germany to ban anonymous SIM cards[German]
#74Earlier quoted context omitted.
Societies pass from peaceable to terrifying all the time, and it generally happens pretty quickly. Nobody ever seems to see it coming, although it's always obvious in hindsight to armchair analysts. It hasn't happened in one of the big powers in awhile, but 71 years isn't that long. It wouldn't be paradise the day before an election and hell the day after, but you never know what event will be pivotal. Until armchair…
Russia being a good example.
When was the transition? I don't remember Russia ever being a peaceable society.
Re: Germany to ban anonymous SIM cards[German]
#75Earlier quoted context omitted.
Well, only the criminals that put some effort. Somewhat effective at tracking down the lazy criminals. Also, in places like Singapore, you can only own 5 Data SIMs before they start asking tougher questions. I wasn't aware there were countries that you could purchase data SIMs in without having to hand over passport/government ID, I'd just assumed that was a ubiquitous practice.
I've bought several sims in the UK and Ireland over the past year, and none of them have taken an ID.
Same in most of Eastern Europe, just hand over cash and get a SIM card.
Re: Germany to ban anonymous SIM cards[German]
#76Earlier quoted context omitted.
And? People aren't less manipulatable than their grandparents were. Just look at the recent election successes of the AfD.
This is a cheap smear. If you want to criticise the AfD - fine - but be specific and give your reasons. I gather they object as I do, to Merkel's arrogant 2015 invitation to migrants which impinges on every person in the EU and particularly in the UK which is a honeypot for EU citizens (which migrants will be in a few years) earning less than the minimum wage.
They are a protest party. Being right-wing is incidental here – they appeared out of nowhere, gained support fast due to unforeseen political circumstances, but they don't exactly have a mature political agenda. They're most likely no new NSDAP, but who says we'll be that lucky every time protest parties sprout up?
Re: Germany to ban anonymous SIM cards[German]
#77Dang, I wonder what would happen if someone were to use fake ID "issued" the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Re: Germany to ban anonymous SIM cards[German]
#78Earlier quoted context omitted.
> One election gone wrong is all it takes and all those data will be used for genocide. Again. I like to believe we are a bit further away from genocide than one election gone awry. 71 years passed, you know.
Societies pass from peaceable to terrifying all the time, and it generally happens pretty quickly. Nobody ever seems to see it coming, although it's always obvious in hindsight to armchair analysts. It hasn't happened in one of the big powers in awhile, but 71 years isn't that long. It wouldn't be paradise the day before an election and hell the day after, but you never know what event will be pivotal. Until armchair…
Yup. Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, Darfur. Four genocides since WWII.
People look up to Germany. Germany setting themselves up for disaster will make other people think they're somehow safe.
Re: Germany to ban anonymous SIM cards[German]
#79Main 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…
They do it here in Thailand. Last year they set a cutoff date - if you had not registered your SIM + gov issued id by a certain date your service was cutoff and you couldn't get new service until you did. The reason was "terrorism", because southern insurgents kept using cell phones as remotes to set off bombs. Now the government uses the information to round up pesky people who use chat apps on their phones to organize protests against the military junta. That's the pattern, right? Start with /terrorism/think of the children/war on drugs/ and transition to general oppression of the populace.
Re: Germany to ban anonymous SIM cards[German]
#80Earlier quoted context omitted.
> 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.
> One election gone wrong is all it takes and all those data will be used for genocide. Again. Because first they'll come for the contractless? Why is it some people are incapable of discussing Germany without tiresomely invoking the Nazis?
> Because first they'll come for the contractless?
No, but census data were extremely useful in organizing the holocaust.
> Why is it some people are incapable of discussing Germany without tiresomely invoking the Nazis?
Because in these cases that's how the political discussion in Germany in the 1980s/2000s went when the above-mentioned measures were discussed. It's simply the benchmark our governments are judged by. The Nazis are not some boogeymen that you use whenever you need a politically correct movie villain, they were the democratically elected government of a first world nation, and should be treated as such.
More generally: Governments should not operate as efficiently as possible. They should be easy to keep in check by the population.