Crime

For Your Safety: FCC and Cellphone Carriers Team Up to Track and Disable Stolen Devices

FCC and Cellphone Carriers Agree to Centralized Database to Shut Off Reported Stolen Cellphones

(Photo: Gary Willmore/Flickr)

WASHINGTON (The Blaze/AP) — Cellphone companies and the government are trying to make it as difficult to use a stolen cellphone as it is to sell a stolen car.

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer said in a statement late Monday that major cellphone carriers and the Federal Communications Commission have agreed to set up a database of identification numbers that are unique to each phone.

Using the list, cellular carriers will be able to permanently disable a phone once it’s been reported stolen. Until now, U.S. carriers have only been disabling so-called “SIM” cards, which can be swapped in and out. That’s enabled a black market to exist for stolen phones.

Schumer said that the goal of the agreement is to make a stolen cellphone “as worthless as an empty wallet.”

The Wall Street Journal reports cellphone theft as one of the fastest growing crimes according to law enforcement. It notes that the Major Cities Chiefs Association, which is composed of 70 police chiefs, asked for the FCC to require carriers to disable devices completely when reported stolen in a February report:

In New York there were more than 26,000 incidents of electronics theft in the first 10 months of 2011 — 81 percent  involving mobile phones — according to an internal police-department document reported by the New York Daily News.

The report said electronics are now the most stolen type of property, surpassing cash. In Washington, D.C., cellphone-related robberies jumped 54 percent from 2007 to 2011 according to the Metropolitan Police Department.

Schumer has said that unique ID numbers known as International Mobile Equipment Identity numbers are already effectively used in Europe to deter stealing. WSJ reports that in London cellphone thefts have declined to 8,000 per month, compared to 10,000 per month in 2004.

Schumer also said he will introduce legislation to make it a federal crime to alter or tamper with a phone’s IMEI number.

WSJ reports carriers will begin creating their own databases, which will then be merged into a centralized database about 12 months after creation.

Comments (33)

  • lfoa
    Posted on April 11, 2012 at 9:39am

    Just imagine a “national emergency” when bandwidth would be strained. Our leaders could selectively silence (deaden phones) those US citizens who aren’t repeating the mantra on Washington. They can easily collect and database the calls we make now…. If we aren’t calling the “right” people or places, we can be targetted for disconnect….

    Report Post »  
  • capnjack
    Posted on April 11, 2012 at 1:15am

    That’s just what we need…to give the Feds the right to turn off our cell phones. The private companies have always had this ability. Why should the Government get involved. This smells fishy to me.

    Report Post » capnjack  
  • Wild911Call
    Posted on April 10, 2012 at 9:20pm

    This is a bill of goods being sold as something good for you. This is really really bad! The ability to Identify and track you at anytime with out your knowledge is horrible. You would never know.

    Report Post » Wild911Call  
  • I.Gaspar
    Posted on April 10, 2012 at 4:41pm

    If schumer is behind it, it is evil and should not be allowed.
    Nothing he is involved with is what it seems; he’s worse than obama, if that’s possible.

    Report Post »  
  • Arshloch
    Posted on April 10, 2012 at 2:06pm

    When ever and what ever schumer is involved in has an ulterior motive. This ploy is ‘for your own good’. Not. It is a breakthrough on the coveted method of control by government over the great unwashed. ‘lil berry’ will love it.

    Report Post » Arshloch  
  • dmerwin
    Posted on April 10, 2012 at 1:18pm

    Finally. How long did they resist this? And why?

    Report Post » dmerwin  
    • Jaycen
      Posted on April 10, 2012 at 1:28pm

      Really? You don’t see any problem with the idea of the federal government (through the FCC) teaming up with cell phone carriers to ensure that every cell phone carries a unique ID. A device that most individuals own and carry with them all the time, that can be used to easily track your position to within a few yards, will have it’s own unique number to identify it and the database will be shared with the FCC.

      Clearly, you have chosen the wrong avatar, DMERWIN. You should have used a picture of a pair of shackles.

      Report Post » Jaycen  
    • Gary Cook
      Posted on April 10, 2012 at 2:01pm

      This is not about lost cell phones, that’s just the excuse.

      Report Post » Gary Cook  
  • Gary Cook
    Posted on April 10, 2012 at 1:04pm

    It’s another must-have tool for the rising tyrant, Barry Soetoro. He will be able to hold citizens without cause (NDAA), shut down Web sites (SOPA), and now kill cell phones of those who disagree with him.

    Report Post » Gary Cook  
    • Bloody Sam
      Posted on April 10, 2012 at 3:35pm

      Cell phone service carriers have had this ability since day one back in the 90s when each phone had an Electronic Serial Number. Once reported to police as stolen the ESN was deactivated.
      The number has changed to the Mobile Equipment Identity number but the principal is the same.

      The only thing that is different now is that Barry’s FCC has strong armed carriers into sharing their computer system user data with their own Gubmint databases.
      There needs to be no government involvement to deactivate a lost phone.

      It’s the ones that AREN”T lost that our new overlords are interested in.

      Report Post » Bloody Sam  
  • Gary Cook
    Posted on April 10, 2012 at 12:39pm

    Can you imagine what the world would look like if all the leaders looked like Rev. Wright, Charlie Rangel, Marion Berry, Barry Soetoro, Farrakhan, and Eric Holder? What a living nightmare that would be for people of every color.

    Report Post » Gary Cook  
  • USACommoner
    Posted on April 10, 2012 at 12:11pm

    Exactly why Congress should have term limits and not be a full-time career. Ever wonder why we have so many inane laws? It’s because of people like this who have all day to dream up stupid cr@p to impose on the American People. Term limits and they only get paid for 20-hour weeks!!! And no lavish pensions afterwards!!

    Report Post » USACommoner  
  • HorseCrazy
    Posted on April 10, 2012 at 11:58am

    wow I am so glad the very streamlined and competent government is always keeping me safe with our giant balanced budget and surplus its so nice of them just making me all warm and fuzzy inside especially when they team up to intrude on our personal devices like gaming consoles, cell phones, computers. I am so glad my freedoms are gone to keep me safe because they know better than us!!!!

    Report Post »  
  • Exiled
    Posted on April 10, 2012 at 11:25am

    I can see doing something similar with vehicles, but a cellphone? That costs maybe a couple hundred dollars? Is it really worth the government oversight? We’re giving up our freedom (from being tracked by the government) for a $200 phone?

    Report Post »  
    • HorseCrazy
      Posted on April 10, 2012 at 11:55am

      kind of looking like we have no say in the matter. just more government at every single turn. well with all the money our government has…wait oh they don’t have any.

      Report Post »  
  • Silversmith
    Posted on April 10, 2012 at 11:16am

    Sure….just for stolen phones…..right. How about the other half of the plan?

    Silversmith

    Report Post » Silversmith  
  • Stoic one
    Posted on April 10, 2012 at 11:15am

    Ha! a cell phone kill switch. with a centralized data base, the fed will be able to shut down cell phones by city, region, state, or even nationally.

    Be careful what you wish for…………………..

    Report Post » Stoic one  
  • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
    Posted on April 10, 2012 at 11:06am

    Why involve the FCC? Cellphones have been around some 20 years or more and they are just getting around to disabling them? My daughter left her purse, including a new cell phone at Universal in Florida. We called the phone and a black lady answered. She said she “found” it. We asked her to mail it to us and we would give her $50. Never got anything and the lady would never answer the phone after that. Verizon just shrugged and said my daughter wold have to buy another phone. We made her use her old one until she was eligible for an upgrade again, as a lesson. Verizon was NO #$%#%^& help at all. Even now, my wife has a phone (Samsung) where the regular transmitter speaker doesn’t work, so she has to put it on speakerphone, or use headphones. Even though she pays for insurance, Verizon won’t replace it, because they claim it isn’t made anymore. I use AT&T and a phone from 2004. No GPS, no internet, just texting and calling. I will use it until it dies. I don’t need it much any way. These cell companies are ripping off families and targeting young people with internet coverage, FaceBook, and all that crap. Kids these days don’t know how to entertain themselves without a phone. They feel lost without a cell phone.

    Report Post » Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
  • texasderek
    Posted on April 10, 2012 at 11:05am

    I really hope they do disable telephones that are reported stolen.
    My daughter had two of them stolen over a 3 year period and AT&T would not disable the MAC Address in their databases. Why would they want to ? They know the person who stole it will need a carrier and the person who it was stolen from will have to get a new one.

    Report Post » texasderek  
  • RodT82721
    Posted on April 10, 2012 at 10:59am

    Nothing good will come from Chucky and the FCC involved.
    Chuck will have to introduce a new tax to pay for the web site, then we will need another army of IRS workers to manage the list and catch the crooks.
    The US Senate will turn this into another multi billion dollar boondoggle.

    It sure makes sense to me, that your carrier should be able to disable the phone if it’s stolen, and the owner calls into the carrier within a reasonable period, like 30 days.
    It would also make sense that a merging of all carrier’s stolen phones database, to make it more effective. If they do turn it off in error they can turn it back on. Just like a credit card.

    Once it becomes common knowledge that stolen phones are useless, the reward of stealing may soon be over come by the chance of getting caught.

    Report Post »  
  • vjustice
    Posted on April 10, 2012 at 10:56am

    I absolutely have to wonder what is the true objective when the likes of Schumer and the other progressives want to have govt and big business “team up”… I am a former city mayor, and ya’ gotta be really careful of the backroom deals… on the flip side, my son lost his cellphone; some one found it, started using it (the tech guy and I figured, based on length of time, from and to addys and midnight hours, for a burn phone or drug deals)
    and Verizon was immediate in turning it off so it would be completely unuseable… the IT guy said its only use now would be a door stop. If it is true a company can do this with a phone, on its own at the phone holder’s request, why does gov’t. need to be involved at all? I don‘t like the scent of gov’t claws… there are ALWAYS strings attached, and the unintended consequences are usually worse than the original “fix”…

    Report Post »  
  • HPC172ERTAV
    Posted on April 10, 2012 at 10:45am

    My niece once had a “theft proof” radio that was disabled once electric power was disconnected until a code was entered. I commented that the only people this inconvenienced were the owner and the buyer of the stolen goods. The thief still got his money. This will be the same. How about tracking the stolen phone and arresting either the thief or the buyer. Anyone who buys something that “fell off the back of a truck” is guilty of perpetrating theft. No buyers no crooks simple free market. I am sure the OWS dips would buy an ipad for $25 from some twitchie dude in a heartbeat. Anything to screw da man (apple) along with the poor slob who bought it in the first place.

    The most shocking statistic I ever heard was that in the 70′s the most stolen object in america was the IBM selectric typewriter for which I am SURE there was a hot street market. If you have ever bought something you even suspected was hot, you are a thief.

    Report Post »  
  • scrapadapolis
    Posted on April 10, 2012 at 10:32am

    If chucky schumer is backing any law he came up with it.He’s against every new yorker for his own adgenda of keeping power and further take away the rights of citizens.This man sided himself with joeseph bruno,and shelden silver.Bruno got caught and is in prison and silver and chucky I hope will be next..That man must go..

    Report Post » scrapadapolis  
  • Its Gonna Getcha
    Posted on April 10, 2012 at 10:30am

    Is it just like when a credit card is stolen, you can call to immediately close it so there’s no further damage done? Then it’s a good idea since people store so much personal information on their handheld devices, and merely switching the SIM card doesn’t work. However, just like the story that broke on Fox about this creepy administration making deals with companies that manufacture “spying devices”, if this is used against us, we have yet one more reason to boot this administration out of office, especially if they should win a second term.

    There’s something creepy lingering about this administration. Since they cannot acquire the power they want with our vote, they’ll use militant tactics, intimidation & fear. “Thou protestesteth too much.“ They call him ”no drama”, but it’s all a long-term plan to be anything but. And it‘s going to be about HIM if it’s the last thing he does.

    If this isn’t the same thing as rape, don’t know what is.

    Report Post » Its Gonna Getcha  
  • piper60
    Posted on April 10, 2012 at 10:19am

    Big Brother-ism, clearly.

    Report Post » piper60  
    • CatB
      Posted on April 10, 2012 at 10:25am

      Yes ..but don’t forget .. it is “for your own good” … UGH!

      OMG 2012!

      Report Post »  
  • SLARTIBARTFAST
    Posted on April 10, 2012 at 10:13am

    If they can disable a stolen phone, they can disable anyone’s phone. I don’t feel any safer, do you ?

    Report Post » SLARTIBARTFAST  
  • MittensKittens
    Posted on April 10, 2012 at 10:05am

    I love it…

    “For Your Safety: FCC and Cellphone Carriers Team Up to Track and Disable Stolen Devices”

    Yep, for “our” safety.

    Report Post » MittensKittens  
    • De minimus
      Posted on April 10, 2012 at 10:21am

      You mean to say that you think that they are lying and have ulterior motives?

      With their recent track record, I very much agree. In fact I would at this point, never believe another syllable that comes from any of their mouths. They are liars and know exactly what they are doing and what their actions will mean long term.

      They no longer serve us. They serve themselves, at our expense entirely.

      Report Post » De minimus  
    • Captain Crunch
      Posted on April 10, 2012 at 10:57am

      This is how you do it….if you suspect you are being tracked, abandon your phone in the frame of a semi-trailer. Duct tape has amazing holding properties. Don’t be stupid or hesitant about it. Your freedom is worth more than the convenience of using your government tracking device. They are turning our beloved technology against us. “RESISTANCE is not FUTILE.

      Report Post »  
  • USAMEDIC3008
    Posted on April 10, 2012 at 10:05am

    Should have small explosive
    just enough to take your ear off

    Report Post » USAMEDIC3008  

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