Mexico to register all cell phone owners

Photo: Esparta on Flickr.

Yep… From AP (via Bruce Schneier):

Also Tuesday, the Senate voted to create a registry of cell phone owners to combat kidnappings and extortions in which gangs often use untraceable mobile phones to make ransom demands.

Telecoms would be required to ask purchasers of cell phones or phone memory chips for their names, addresses and fingerprints, and to turn that information over to investigators if requested.

At present, unregulated vendors sell phones and chips for cash from streetside stands. It is unclear how such vendors would be made to comply with the new law.

The saying; “The path to hell is paved with good intentions”, comes to mind.

My guess is that black market imported cellphones will be hot items, even for lawful citizens. I know I wouldn’t leave my fingerprints when buying a cellphone from a streetside stand