New Mexican law to fingerprint all prepaid mobile phone users

Posted on Wednesday, February 11 2009 @ 0:35 CET by Thomas De Maesschalck
Under a new law published Monday, Mexico will start a national register of mobile phone users by fingerprinting all customers in an effort to catch criminals who use mobile phone to extort money and negotiate kidnapping ransoms. The new law, which will be in force this April, will give mobile phone companies a year to build the database of their clients - complete with fingerprints and any other personally identifiably information. Most of the phones in Mexico are prepaid phones which can be bought and more minutes added without giving personal information - but that will now change. Any new subscribers will be fingerprinted when they buy a "throw-away phone".

More info at TechFragments.


About the Author

Thomas De Maesschalck

Thomas has been messing with computer since early childhood and firmly believes the Internet is the best thing since sliced bread. Enjoys playing with new tech, is fascinated by science, and passionate about financial markets. When not behind a computer, he can be found with running shoes on or lifting heavy weights in the weight room.



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