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Prepaid mobile phones: the anonymity question

Prepaid mobile phones: the anonymity question. part one demand articulation. Why you need a prepay cell phone …. Perfect for the credit challenged, since monthly billed plans require credit approval. No monthly service fees. No security deposits. No contract to sign. Better cost control.

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Prepaid mobile phones: the anonymity question

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  1. Prepaid mobile phones:the anonymity question Centre for Policy Research on Science and Technology

  2. part onedemand articulation Centre for Policy Research on Science and Technology

  3. Why you need a prepay cell phone … • Perfect for the credit challenged, since monthly billed plans require credit approval. • No monthly service fees. • No security deposits. • No contract to sign. • Better cost control. • No need to disclose your real identity. In most cases, you can activate a pre-paid phone plan under the name Mickey Mouse if you wish. Rumour has it that this is a big hit with Mafiosi trying to remain anonymous! -Sales pitch from ‘PrepaidCellPhoneGuide.com’ Centre for Policy Research on Science and Technology

  4. Prepaid is significant Centre for Policy Research on Science and Technology

  5. Worldwide 50% of all mobile phone customersnow use prepaid, generating over 1/4 of the total revenues in the global market. From 2005 and beyond, at least 3/4 of the totalmobile base will consist of prepaid users. 22% of Canada’s mobile phone market is prepaid (Q2 2004). 46% of Fido customers25% of Bell Mobility customers18% of both Rogers and TELUS customers Centre for Policy Research on Science and Technology

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  9. There is demand for regulation Centre for Policy Research on Science and Technology

  10. “Pre-paid/pay-as-you-go cellphones, Internet access cards, Internet cafés and Internet facilities at public libraries allpose an obstacle to law enforcement agencies because the identity of the service user is easy to conceal from law enforcement. In keeping with the principle that no intercept safe havensbe created, regulatory obligations should be established in Canada requiring the identification of users of prepaid communications services and the maintenance of an accuratesubscriber database by the service provider.” Lawful Access Submission from Canadian Law Enforcement (2003) Centre for Policy Research on Science and Technology

  11. “… the lack of regulation of anonymous prepaid telephone cards clashes with the need for law enforcement agencies to have access to telecommunications.” 1995 European Council Resolution on lawful interception “… the Polish Ministry of Infrastructure introduced a new obligationfor mandatory identification of buyers of pre-paid GSM-cards. Theproposal is brought as an anti-terrorism measure.” European Digital Rights, EDRI-gram (Dec. 2004) “ ‘Removing the anonymous cards will be good for the fight against criminals,’ said Police President Jiri Kolar, adding that theanonymity of callers often frustrated their investigations.” Prague Post, 24 Feb 2005 Centre for Policy Research on Science and Technology

  12. The “community [now] has confidence that crime is not being facilitated through anonymous … SIMs. Especially at risk are crimes like stalking, harassment, threats to interfere with witnesses. Also that that law enforcement has confidence in a database for emergency calls.” Executive from Australia telecom industry (anonymous) Centre for Policy Research on Science and Technology

  13. There is opposition to regulation Centre for Policy Research on Science and Technology

  14. “… it is by no means intuitively obvious to a reasonable memberof the general public that a fixed address must be provided in orderto receive mobile phone service. Resistance … therefore, is understandable, especially in light of theheightened awareness of privacy rights and concerns over the abilityof organizations to protect personal data in the information age.” (Microcell Telecommunications Inc., 2001) Centre for Policy Research on Science and Technology

  15. “Once they’ve got records on all the cards in use, the securityprocedures will be simple. If they’ve caught an Al Qaeda terroristand discovered he’s using a Swiss SIM, they can look up the record of his address, then go and arrest him. No, we’ll try that again. When they notice a suspicious pattern of usage, with calls being made from suspicious locations like Islamabad, Baghdad and Finsbury Park, they can look up the address he filled in and go and arrest him. No, we’re not sure that works either…” John Lettice, writing in The Register (2003) Centre for Policy Research on Science and Technology

  16. A identity requirement for prepaid “raises the spectre of convenience store clerks demanding and recording - and then transmitting -peoples sensitive personal information, such as driver’s license and credit card numbers, as a condition of purchasing pre-paid phones or phone cards. This would be a gross invasion of privacy.” Federal Privacy Commisioner’s Response to Lawful Access Proposals in 2002 Centre for Policy Research on Science and Technology

  17. part twoproblem formulation Centre for Policy Research on Science and Technology

  18. What is anonymity? Centre for Policy Research on Science and Technology

  19. “Anonymity has to do with the non-coordination or non-coordinatibility of the traits of a person in and through social ‘orders’, that is, in and through social relations and locations.” K. Wallace (1999). ‘Anonymity,’ Ethics and Information Technology Centre for Policy Research on Science and Technology

  20. Identity traits Centre for Policy Research on Science and Technology

  21. Legal name Locatability Traceable pseudonyms Untraceable pseudonyms Patterned behaviour Social or physical attributes Symbols of eligibility/non-eligibility (G. Marx, 2001) Centre for Policy Research on Science and Technology

  22. Legal name XX Locatability Vancouver Traceable pseudonyms XX Untraceable pseudonyms +447918101422 Patterned behaviour daily call to London Social/physical attributes XX Eligibility/non-eligibility HSBC telephone banking Centre for Policy Research on Science and Technology

  23. part threealternatives Centre for Policy Research on Science and Technology

  24. Normative basis for policy Centre for Policy Research on Science and Technology

  25. “An organization may collect, use or disclose personal information only for purposes that a reasonable person would consider are appropriate in the circumstances.” (Canada PIPED Act, Section 5.3) Centre for Policy Research on Science and Technology

  26. Balanced policy options • Call detail recording (CDR) • Data retention • Lawful access • Opt-in for prepaid customers • Industry self regulation Centre for Policy Research on Science and Technology

  27. Beyond prepaid? • Regulation of technologies that “support” illegal activities: • Communications (WiFi cards, Internet appliances) • P2P filesharing applications • Digital recording devices (e.g., iPods, cameras) • Proposedlegislation in the USA • When is registration legitimate? Centre for Policy Research on Science and Technology

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