Buying a phone without tying it directly to your identity could get much harder.The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is considering tougher "know your customer" rules for voice providers.The proposal would push phone companies to collect and keep more personal information before giving many new or renewing customers access to service.
That could include your name, physical address, government-issued identification number and an alternate phone number.The FCC says the goal is to make life harder for scammers, robocallers and criminals who abuse phone networks.That sounds reasonable at first.
Nobody wants more fake bank calls, Medicare scam texts or urgent messages from crooks pretending to be family members.Yet this proposal raises a much bigger question.
How much personal privacy should we give up to fight scam calls?Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy ReportGOOGLE SEARCH LED TO A COSTLY SCAM CALLThe FCC is considering tougher phone identity checks that could require more personal information before service begins.(Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)The FCC phone ID proposal focuses on identity checks for originating voice providers.
Those are the companies that allow calls to enter the phone network.Right now, the FCC already expects providers to take steps to know their customers and stop illegal calls.
The new proposal would make those duties more specific.The FCC is asking whether providers should be required to obtain and retain certain customer information before granting service.
At a minimum, that could include:The FCC is also asking how these rules should apply to "new and renewing" customers.That phrase is important.
A narrow version could focus on people opening new accounts.A broader version could reach people who switch plans or renew service with a current provider.
For high-volume customers, including some business and foreign customers, the FCC is also asking whether providers should collect more information.That could include the intended use of the ...