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Question of the Day: What's the most interesting small town you've visited in South Africa?
Cellphone laws
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Tunasashimi
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Many Questions
The bill sounds a bit dodgy... Isn't it a bit like trying to pass a law that says that nobody may whisper in the dark?
I dont see how this can be required of cellphone companies, any more than can be required of a person drinking coffee in your coffeeshop, to leave all his personal details.
Where do we stand on this in relation to other countries? Who thought this up? Maybe he saw some movie where a call was "traced" and was frustrated because he couldn't do the same.
Ultimately it becomes a moral consideration. Will it discourage enough people from committing crime? Is this the most cost effective way? What kinds of crimes will be eliminated?
The bill sounds a bit dodgy... Isn't it a bit like trying to pass a law that says that nobody may whisper in the dark?
I dont see how this can be required of cellphone companies, any more than can be required of a person drinking coffee in your coffeeshop, to leave all his personal details.
Where do we stand on this in relation to other countries? Who thought this up? Maybe he saw some movie where a call was "traced" and was frustrated because he couldn't do the same.
Ultimately it becomes a moral consideration. Will it discourage enough people from committing crime? Is this the most cost effective way? What kinds of crimes will be eliminated?
kaspaas
Expert Member
I bought a Mascom SIM card in Botswana last week @ P20 including P5 airtime.
No questions asked.
Includes roaming in South Africa.
More airtime available on almost every corner of every street.
No questions asked.
Includes roaming in South Africa.
More airtime available on almost every corner of every street.
When passing laws governments should look at both the costs and benefits of the act. In this bill's case the costs involved, which could lead to millions of people losing their only means of communication, exceed by a massive margin the benefits to be gained. I wouldn't be suprised if a mere handful of criminals (the stupid ones who don't easily circumvent the restrictions this law makes) are caught using it a year.
Tunasashimi
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Alternatives....
Well... how long to they have to keep the details?
Maybe the cellphone operators can argue that the details are immediately available at the time a call is made. They can triangulate the address, and the number origin and destination can be the ID.
Well, I can see.. they obviously want to know who you phone and when. Don't we have any privacy acts that negates sections of this bill?
Well... how long to they have to keep the details?
Maybe the cellphone operators can argue that the details are immediately available at the time a call is made. They can triangulate the address, and the number origin and destination can be the ID.
Well, I can see.. they obviously want to know who you phone and when. Don't we have any privacy acts that negates sections of this bill?