GCHQ mobile phone passport ID plan

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Sunday, October 19, 2008
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This is Gloucestershire

The Government intends to demand ID from anyone wanting to buy a mobile phone in order to close a loophole in GCHQ’s plans for a crime-busting mobile phone register, the Sunday Times reported today.

The “eavesdropping centre” in Cheltenham came under fire recently when it was revealed that they wanted to compile a register of all 72 million mobile phone owners in the country.

But sources inside the government are saying that Britain’s estimated 40million pay-as-you-go phones pose a loophole which must be filled.

Pay as you go phones are often associated with criminals who buy them with cash, favoring the anonymity the non-registered phones give them.

However, the more flexible pay as you go method is also championed by many law-abiding people, who don’t like the hassle of registering and paying by direct debit.

To get around the obvious flaw in plans for the database, the government is considering making it compulsory to demand photo identification such as a passport or driving licence when anyone buys a pre-paid mobile phone.

It is believed that the Home Secretary Jacqui Smith will announce the move next year.

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41 Comments

  • Profile image for This is Gloucestershire

    by persecuted, under the stairs

    Wednesday, October 22 2008, 10:18PM

    “All your emails have been logged by GCHQ, you wiil all be shortly visited by the thought police, or is that the stasi.”

  • Profile image for This is Gloucestershire

    by censored, anon

    Tuesday, October 21 2008, 10:46PM

    “No comment as you delete anything controversial wich makes it a waste of time how are you going to promote debate with that attitude”

  • Profile image for This is Gloucestershire

    by Chris Dowdeswell, Gloucester

    Tuesday, October 21 2008, 10:32AM

    “For those who subscribe to the "if you have nothing to hide you have nothing to fear" mentality shame on you. What about the right to privacy? These are fundamental freedoms which our ancestors fought and died for. Would you have government CCTV installed in your house then?

    "Those who would trade in their freedom for their protection deserve neither." - Benjamin Franklin.

    Chris”

  • Profile image for This is Gloucestershire

    by Matt, Gloucester

    Monday, October 20 2008, 8:51PM

    “Ok it's 1 thing doing all this to catch criminals etc.... but whats the point if they only get a telling off or a 3 month sentance in a luxury hotel sorry meant prison !!
    We need a system with tough punishment to prevent a lot of the crime that is happening in the first place not all this nonsense to catch more criminals who dont get a suitable punishent !!”

  • Profile image for This is Gloucestershire

    by Tom Stickland, Stroud

    Monday, October 20 2008, 6:28PM

    “Those whom this is targeted at will create a massive market in stolen sim cards.”

  • Profile image for This is Gloucestershire

    by FJ, Glos

    Monday, October 20 2008, 5:49PM

    “Just think what could be done with all of their so-called anti-terrorist measures: This, the plan to store phone-calls, texts and emails and of course their beloved 42 day detention limit. Imagine it: They monitor phone calls, and find any that appear to be from someone consider voting for an opposing party. They know their ID, so the have a list of everyone who is voting against them. So shortly before election day, everyone on the list gets a knock on their door by a police officer on suspicion of being a terrorist- after all, they obviously oppose the state, so they could be planning terrorist activity! They are then conveniently locked up on election day under the 42day detention limit, so therefore
    cannot vote against brown.

    Call me paranoid, a conspiracy theorist? Why, its already happened in other parts of the world, don't go into the "it won't happen to me" state of mind!”

  • Profile image for This is Gloucestershire

    by Cliffrat, Stonehouse

    Monday, October 20 2008, 5:18PM

    “Rob, Abbeymead I will NOT be carrying a biometric ID card, I've signed the pledge and paid my subs for the fighting fund and I don't care what these fascist Gestapo government do I'm not having one end of story, nor will I give them any true details no matter what the compulsion may be, i'll lie about everything. These bullies have to be stopped even if it means taking to the streets with Kalashnikovs against them. On the other hand maybe the terrorists who think the same are right and I should vote for them . . . .”

  • Profile image for This is Gloucestershire

    by Randybvain, Cheltenham

    Monday, October 20 2008, 5:14PM

    “What a problem to buy a phone abroad? And SIM may be many times resold, so thus is much ado about nothing. I think somebody wants us all to support falling banks with our Direct Debit.”

  • Profile image for This is Gloucestershire

    by Panda, Gloucester

    Monday, October 20 2008, 1:49PM

    “I guess it will help catch a few more of the retarded criminals but anyone with any sense will easily work around the system using old mobiles or stolen phones, creating more of a black markets for pay as you go mobiles and sims....not to mention online purchases of mobiles...?!?”

  • Profile image for This is Gloucestershire

    by Rob, Abbeymead

    Monday, October 20 2008, 1:47PM

    “"how will you buy one if you don't drive or hold a passport?? It's not as far as I know compulsory to hold photo id..... anon, glos "

    Because you will soon be carrying a biometric ID card which is compulsory.

    The Govt has everything sewn up, you belong to them now.”

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