Now Your Phone Needs A Licence

[pookfuzz]

argggg!!! what are you so worried about? do you really think they are gonna be watching every sms and email that you send??

this whole thing is aimed at criminals and security suspects.

You carry on believing that if it makes you feel better.

Personally I suspect a somewhat less honorable goal. Our government has demonstrated an insatiable hunger for money and shown very little interest in curbing crime - in many cases they themselves appear to be criminals!

Despite the rhetoric this phone registration is not aimed at criminals ( only the most naive and petty criminals would be caught ), it is aimed at the public. The most likely benefactor of this information being SARS since money is about the only thing that motivates this government.

This is not me being paranoid, since as per your dictionary definition paranoia would require the absence of logic and reason. The reason: Our government is corrupt and incompetent, at almost all levels. The logic: corrupt and incompetent organizations tend to engage in corrupt and incompetent practices.

I very much dislike the idea that the government will know who I communicate with, what I communicate and my physical movements. The question most people ask is "what do you have to hide?", well I have plenty to hide when the people doing the looking will be the criminals.

Consider how useful this info would be to a car hijacking syndicate, via their government channels they can easily search to find cars to match what they want from your car registration records, from that your ID number. Now via your cell phone they can find out exactly where you are and map the routes you take and times you arrive and depart.

The bottom line is I don't trust our government. Too many lies, too many scandals, too many mistakes and too few redeeming qualities. I do not see any value in giving them additional tools to abuse.

 

[love56k]

You carry on believing that if it makes you feel better. - i will.

Personally I suspect a somewhat less honorable goal. Our government has demonstrated an insatiable hunger for money and shown very little interest in curbing crime - in many cases they themselves appear to be criminals! - not everyone in government is corrupt.

Despite the rhetoric this phone registration is not aimed at criminals ( only the most naive and petty criminals would be caught ), it is aimed at the public. The most likely benefactor of this information being SARS since money is about the only thing that motivates this government. - great, the more SARS can collect from tax evaders, the less the rest of us will have to fork out.

This is not me being paranoid - in your opinion. since as per your dictionary definition paranoia would require the absence of logic and reason. The reason: Our government is corrupt and incompetent, at almost all levels. The logic: corrupt and incompetent organizations tend to engage in corrupt and incompetent practices.

I very much dislike the idea that the government will know who I communicate with, what I communicate and my physical movements. The question most people ask is "what do you have to hide?", well I have plenty to hide when the people doing the looking will be the criminals. - if they want your info, they will get it, either way.

Consider how useful this info would be to a car hijacking syndicate, via their government channels they can easily search to find cars to match what they want from your car registration records, from that your ID number. Now via your cell phone they can find out exactly where you are and map the routes you take and times you arrive and depart. - see above.

The bottom line is I don't trust our government. Too many lies, too many scandals, too many mistakes and too few redeeming qualities. I do not see any value in giving them additional tools to abuse. - whether you like it or not, they can do as they please, unless we, all south africans, stand together and oppose them.

 

[Highflyer_GP]

Still it amazes me that people would willingly give out their details when applying for a contract phone, bank debit and credit accounts, loans, vehicle finance, insurance claims etc. but make a big moan when it comes to buying a phone or prepaid sims. The only people who will object to this are the one's who have something to hide. If government needed your information there's a whole lot of other places they can look, as listed above. Not to mention that home affairs would have a record of everyone's details who has an ID book or passport.

 

[RichardP]

Hmm.. I wonder if I need a license for my Thuraya Sat phone... or my wireless VoIP handsets.

 

[Prometheus]

Personally I suspect a somewhat less honorable goal. Our government has demonstrated an insatiable hunger for money and shown very little interest in curbing crime - in most cases they themselves appear to be criminals!

Just had to correct that little spelling mistake.

Personally I feel safer when the government knows nothing about me. If a government knew every move you make then they can find a way to put you in jail whether you committed a crime or not. We need privacy in order to have opposing views from that of the government. Or do people rather want to live in a system that decides when you go to bed and wake up, what you eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner on which day of the week. If you do then you are welcome to it, but don't deny the rest of us to have a life free from government interference of any nature.

It's already too much that we must provide identification and proof of residence to open a bank account or have a license to own a firearm. Now we must provide identification to purchase a cellphone or SIM card. Next time they might ask for identification when you buy groceries. I refuse to comply with all this crap.

 

[bb_matt]

As damian24 points out, it's a completely meaningless exercise.

If your a criminal, your going to register with false details - like DUH.

I can't believe how bl00dy stupid people can be, it's just another pain in the arse for your law abiding citizen and a total cake walk for criminals - they can freely ignore it.

There's some other nasty implications here - if your phone is stolen and is somehow used in an illegal act, it would trace back to you, not the criminal.

Lets face it, if a criminal steals a pay-as-u-go phone, they can use it regardless of registering and if this new system comes into place, then it's the owner of the stolen phone who will face the rap.

DUMB, totally DUMB.

It's SA playing "first world games" again.

 

[Prometheus]

Still it amazes me that people would willingly give out their details when applying for a contract phone, bank debit and credit accounts, loans, vehicle finance, insurance claims etc. but make a big moan when it comes to buying a phone or prepaid sims. The only people who will object to this are the one's who have something to hide. If government needed your information there's a whole lot of other places they can look, as listed above. Not to mention that home affairs would have a record of everyone's details who has an ID book or passport.

Highflyer, you are confusing the issue with something completely different. When applying for a contract you are in fact taking out a loan that you pay at the end of every month. If they didn't require identification you could rack up a million rand account and throw away your phone and SIM and they would be unable to recover the money you owe them. The same for insurance claims. They have to know who they are paying out so they don't pay out false claims without a way to recover their money.

What we are talking about here is a cash transaction. Once it's done nobody owes anyone anything and it is nobody's business who uses the phone. Besides this will only be an inconvenience for honest people and real criminals will still get away. Face it! Society is out of control because the laws are out of control. The more laws that exist in order to combat a problem, the worse the problem becomes and nobody seems to realise it until things are completely out of control.

 

[kilo39]

For instance - the student riots in France (a worthy cause?) - or demonstrations against globabization... you cannot tell me that in this country this kind of registration will not be used for the abuse of government powers.

Or - even simply trashing the president: now many will watch their words -. All dissent may be illegal - but illegal dissent is many times our only form of freedom. For instance - recent fights over demarcation - real, relevant - illegal. Cannot tell me gub will not use this information against the people.

We are moving steadily from one police state to another (with a very small flash of freedom between - now gone.) And just btw - I find the endless roadblocks and need for the government to know oppressive and stifling - stay out of my life FFS!

 

[Prometheus]

I rejoice every time a judge or prosecutor is murdered, one small step for man...

 

[kilo39]

I rejoice every time a judge or prosecutor is murdered, one small step for man...

A bit harsh Prometheus. But let's not forget Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in prison. For having an opinion.

 

[Prometheus]

Maybe a bit harse, but so is ruining an innocent person's life and receiving the full protection of the law for doing it. People are just fighting back the only way they know how. And if you want to see really harse punishments for injustice then go read a bit from the bible. Society is too quick to accept everything that is dictated to them nowadays.

 

[hj2k_x]

This new law is total hogwash...

Want a new sim card? lie about your address give em a fake ID... done

Want a new phone? steal it, change IMEI to prevent blacklisting... done

What about international prepaid? they don't have to register so they can't be traced.

I can see cellphone syndicates providing unregistered or fake registered sims and phones, so how the hell does this improve traceability if the criminals know you're going to try to trace them.

Ill conceived with very little forethought, why do you think they steal cars for armoured vehicle heists? same bladdy principle!

D

Agreed.

More unnecessary red-tape that will only slow down decent people's lives and have no effect at all on crime.

 

[love56k]

Like I said. The pickaxes are coming and I can only smile.

I rejoice every time a judge or prosecutor is murdered, one small step for man...

eish... how did u go from being an obedient, bible-punching christian to being a blood-thirsty cheerleader of pickaxe-wielding judge-slayers, prometheus? i think you better go re-read that bible of yours....before the big interception begins!

/me runs away screaming

 

[Prometheus]

eish... how did u go from being an obedient, bible-punching christian to being a blood-thirsty cheerleader of pickaxe-wielding judge-slayers, prometheus? i think you better go re-read that bible of yours....before the big interception begins!

/me runs away screaming

Actually my beliefs haven't changed. Whether or not a person is cheered on to stand up for their right doesn't change the fact that it will happen. And what makes sentencing an innocent person to death any different from murder. Who says that any of those judges didn't do exactly that since it wasn't that long ago that the death penalty was abolished. What goes around comes around. You can't expect a person to just sit back and take whatever is dished out to them. The law certainly doesn't give them any recourse. It is only fair that they have some way to fight back. Einstein said that he had no idea what the 3rd world war will be fought with, but the 4th one will be fought with the knife.

 

[RichardP]

I rejoice every time a judge or prosecutor is murdered, one small step for man...

Sorry Prometheus... I find your statements a bit contradictory .. If you wish hardship on others, then are you lower than the... argh... let me keep quiet, a flame war will start.

 

[Prometheus]

Sorry Prometheus... I find your statements a bit contradictory .. If you wish hardship on others, then are you lower than the... argh... let me keep quiet, a flame war will start.

Firstly, I'm not "wishing" hardship on anyone. But, I am glad that some people are fighting to take back their right to justice. If the means by which they do it is bloodshed and murder then it's only because the system is rigged so that there is no other way for them to do that. I have sympathy for them, not for the government cronies that are suppose to be just.

Secondly, which statements do you find find contradictory? If people want to write a response they should finish their sentences. If they don't then one can only make the wrong assumptions about what was going to be said.

 

[-toady-]

*This is not me being paranoid, since as per your dictionary definition paranoia would require the absence of logic and reason. The reason: Our government is corrupt and incompetent, at almost all levels. The logic: corrupt and incompetent organizations tend to engage in corrupt and incompetent practices.

I very much dislike the idea that the government will know who I communicate with, what I communicate and my physical movements. The question most people ask is "what do you have to hide?", well I have plenty to hide when the people doing the looking will be the criminals.*

If only I were as articulate as pookfuzz i couldve made sense in 2004 heh...but guys - u DO get used to it. *hears its Dronemasters remote chirrup into life as it hits the reply button.

CacklinToad (and as such am known as a
___________

Security Suspect

 

[Rohland]

Haha

All this becuase you have to register when buying a Prepaid simcard. Firstly, how often do you buy a new Sim card? The only time you should need to buy one is when you have lost your previous one or it got stolen.

If it got stolen, wouldnt you feel that much better that the person who stole it will have a better chance of being caught? Even if it made a 1% difference?

Furthermore, how can you expect government to increase spending on crime prevention when the statistics dont reflect the reality. If my phone got stolen there would be a good chance that I would not report it because its such a ball ache. I am sure there are thousands out there who dont report petty crime. Now that we have to, stats will reflect more accurately and maybe, just maybe something will be done about it.

I dont see what the big fuss is about. All these theories about being monitored etc are a joke. Dont flatter yourselves people.

 

[AmaDownload]

Okay, so there's the business opportunity..

Get anybody with a geographical aliby (overseas ppl, prisoners, pensioners, dying ppl, handycapped, permanently admitted, etc) to buy the R2.00 SIMs (like 2000) and register (like Q4U), and then sell them as pre-registered for R100.00 to the crooks!

This way when they are held liable for calls made and received when an investigation is done they are clearly not involved in the matter and can only be charged with a fine for helping out a poor crook with letting him make a phonecall or ten.

 

[Skip]

My issue is not that this is going to be used for monitoring people, my issue is that it's yet another layer of beurecratic red tape which will come nowhere close to actually fulfilling it's intended goals.