Lets Help the RICA and FICA System

[davemc]

As many of you know, government have implemented the Regulation of Interception of Communications and Provision of Communication-Related Information Act (RICA).

One of the requirements of this Act is that the communication service providers be able to properly identify their customers. Proper identification, we are lead to believe, is either:
- a non certified copy of your ID book and a non certified copy of some invoice from a well known service provider.
- a certified copy of your ID Book and a certified copy of an invoice.
Some are even claiming that all you have to do is prattle off an ID Number to the person behind the counter.

Whichever the truth is, there is a lot of work to be done.

I took a look at my RICA requirements. I would have to do quite a bit of work to become compliant.

I would need to get certified with:
- 2 cellular service providers for 3 sim cards.
- Telkom apparently already have my details, but I would have to confirm that they actually do or risk getting cut off.
- 5 ISP's
- 2 hosting companies
- .co.za registrar.
- .za.net registrar.
- .org.za registrar.

Now, if the requirement is certified copies of the ID book and bill, then I would have to make at least 12 copies of both and have them registered at my local police station and then begin the tedious process of getting these documents to the service providers in a secure manner.

And, if I then move house, I will have to do the entire process again. Or at least a similar process. And, I wondered just how motivated I will be to actually go and do this paperwork once I have finished moving.

I started thinking that perhaps a system should be implemented where we all simply go to "one-place" and identify ourselves. This would, I am quite sure go down well with most of the people in South Africa who use the communication service providers services.

The communication service providers could simply call this "one-place", and request that your identity information be forwarded to them. Now, that would be something useful!

Lets take the idea a step further. If this "one-place" issues you with a "membership card" that is only issued when they have your details, then you could simply present your membership card to the communication service providers.

But, we need a name for this "one-place" and the "membership card". I would like to suggest names for these; lets call the "one-place" the Department of Home Affairs, and lets call the "membership card" the Green bar coded ID book.

Do you think we can help the RICA system with this idea?

[IRG]

+1 for the Idea, one would think that the government would think about a system like that! If i have a bank account i must be fica compliant, thus if I purchase a cell with a new sim, simply give them my income tax number. That will link me to my banking details etc...

[Garyvdh]

This is what home affairs should be, but has failed. This is what the new driver's licenses were supposed to be but failed. But maybe the private sector can succeed.

[chiskop]

It's a good idea, davemc - kind of like openid for the real world.

I've often thought it would be useful for there to be a one-stop place that could stop any bank cards etc if your wallet got stolen. They could also provide certified backups of your drivers' lic. and ID while you get them replaced.


But maybe the private sector can succeed.

But the problem is - who do you trust with this information?

That was a recurring theme in the RICA threads - what's to stop an employee from this place selling on your info? How can this be used to make ID theft harder, rather than easier?

[daveza]

You are only required to show them your id - they are not entitled to a copy of it.

[davemc]

How does one Register for RICA?

For all new Pay As You Go starter packs and contracts, subscribers will have to ensure that their SIM card is registered by a RICA Officer at the point of purchase before the SIM card can be activated. To register, customers will need to provide the RICA officer with the following:

* Full name and Surname of the purchaser of the SIM card
* A copy of South African ID book
* Record of the Cellphone number of the SIM or Starter Pack
* Proof of residential or employment address, using current utility bill or a recent bank statement or other acceptable documentation
Sauce : http://www.mtn.co.za/MTNServices/RICA/Pages/Overview.aspx

I wonder if MTN are as confused as I am as to the requirements.

[daveza]

I stand corrected.

I just read the complete act - and unlike Fica it appears they are required to keep a copy of your id. So much for minimising id theft.

[Nanfeishen]

I started thinking that perhaps a system should be implemented where we all simply go to "one-place" and identify ourselves. This would, I am quite sure go down well with most of the people in South Africa who use the communication service providers services.

The communication service providers could simply call this "one-place", and request that your identity information be forwarded to them. Now, that would be something useful!

Lets take the idea a step further. If this "one-place" issues you with a "membership card" that is only issued when they have your details, then you could simply present your membership card to the communication service providers.

But, we need a name for this "one-place" and the "membership card". I would like to suggest names for these; lets call the "one-place" the Department of Home Affairs, and lets call the "membership card" the Green bar coded ID book.


Why not simply cal them RICA Centre's:
Centre's for Reappraisal Intergration Classification and Assesment

Everyone gets a RICA card stating they are are compliant citizens, this card must be shown when buying airtime, or the number punched in when logging on to the WWW. It must be entered into your cell, and is tagged to every sms you send.
The card also provides the folowing info:
Race
Religion (lets throw in different colours for those)
Political Affiliations
Blood Type
Criminal Record
School Record
etc Etc

Naturally you will not be allowed as a good RICA citizen to talk or communicate with anybody who is not RICA certified.

Lets all help Big Brother Nanny State in the removal of another of our freedoms , the right to privacy, the right to talk or communicate without being listened into, monitored and recorded.

[Marc123]

Why not simply cal them RICA Centre's:
Centre's for Reappraisal Intergration Classification and Assesment

Everyone gets a RICA card stating they are are compliant citizens, this card must be shown when buying airtime, or the number punched in when logging on to the WWW. It must be entered into your cell, and is tagged to every sms you send.
The card also provides the folowing info:
Race
Religion (lets throw in different colours for those)
Political Affiliations
Blood Type
Criminal Record
School Record
etc Etc

Naturally you will not be allowed as a good RICA citizen to talk or communicate with anybody who is not RICA certified.

Lets all help Big Brother Nanny State in the removal of another of our freedoms , the right to privacy, the right to talk or communicate without being listened into, monitored and recorded.

I wonder how many people do actually realize what RICA is about. We are losing our rights more and more.
I am not a criminal, but do feel entitled to some privacy. Soon enough they will simply start monitoring for people saying something bad about our dear president and put them in jail...

For a glimpse into the future, simply look at the old Communist Russia!

In America they also have this in place, they call it the Patriot act!

As long as the state can intercept your calls they are happy...

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