Post: #1

There are few English articles about this topic, but basically a new Polish anti-terrorism law will make it mandatory to register your cell phone number. Everyone must register by December 1st I believe.

Poland, Hungary Push for New Anti-Terror Powers

Quote:Meanwhile Polish officials said they would work to stop anonymous use of prepaid cellphone cards and lift restrictions on the police’s ability to search premises and make nighttime arrests.

Previously, you could purchase a phone card and even a burner phone on any street corner kiosk for a couple of dollars.

This will have huge ramifications:

- Supposedly this is an anti-terrorist action, though I'm not holding my breath that this will stop any attacks anytime soon.

- Crime will be much more difficult. Sell weed? Now if your customer is caught by the police, they will immediately know who the dealer is when they look at the person's phone.

- Something that I think will have the biggest effect on men and RvF members in Poland is the dating side of anonymity. How many suspicious wives/girlfriends will go to T-Mobile to find out if their boyfriend has an extra phone registered? Will they also check out suspicious calls to you, to see if they're from women?

- Basically, a very basic right is being taken away here: our right to have an anonymous phone number. If this is good or bad, I ask other members for input. So far I can only think of immoral things to do with an anonymous phone, such as buying drugs or cheating. Are there any positives?

Post: #2

All numbers are supposed to be registered here in China. Is my phone number registered? Nope. It's in someone's name, but it isn't mine.

You can buy "pre-registered" SIM cards here on the street.

Post: #3

Hmm ok but how does this affect normal people? If im caught with an unregistered number, IE i dont register my current number by Dec 1st, then what?

Post: #4

(11-29-2016 11:50 AM)NewMeta Wrote:  Hmm ok but how does this affect normal people? If im caught with an unregistered number, IE i dont register my current number by Dec 1st, then what?

Obviously they break down your door at 3am, put a black sack on your head, and throw you into their van.

"Oh sorry I didn't know". Is the government powerful enough to chase down 38 million people and ensure each of them is obeying something as trivial as phone number registration? Ignore until they threaten.

What would more likely happen is they target the telcos, and make them deactivate unregistered SIMs. In the meantime the terrorists say "thanks for the heads up" and use encrypted VOIP services.

Government is a very efficient producer of retardedness.

Post: #5

(11-29-2016 11:50 AM)NewMeta Wrote:  Hmm ok but how does this affect normal people? If im caught with an unregistered number, IE i dont register my current number by Dec 1st, then what?

Numbers that aren't registered will be deactivated by the carriers.

Polish article detailing the anti-terrorist law

CORRECTION: The deadline is February 1st, not December.

Post: #6

(11-29-2016 11:45 AM)Suits Wrote:  All numbers are supposed to be registered here in China. Is my phone number registered? Nope. It's in someone's name, but it isn't mine.

You can buy "pre-registered" SIM cards here on the street.

I don't recommend buying second-hand SIM cards on the street... I mean, you never know who exactly is or was the original owner (registrar) of the SIM card you're buying. Might be a high-level criminal, someone on a watch-list, and then, your own conversations will be flagged.

Post: #7

Quote:So far I can only think of immoral things to do with an anonymous phone, such as buying drugs or cheating.

So people who want to protect their privacy are somehow immoral?

Post: #8

(11-29-2016 12:21 PM)Going strong Wrote:  

(11-29-2016 11:45 AM)Suits Wrote:  You can buy "pre-registered" SIM cards here on the street.

I don't recommend buying second-hand SIM cards on the street... I mean, you never know who exactly is or was the original owner (registrar) of the SIM card you're buying. Might be a high-level criminal, someone on a watch-list, and then, your own conversations will be flagged.

Good. Some Chinese guy is going to learn some game.