Mexico’s senate approved the creation of a National Register of Mobile Telephone Users yesterday, which will include fingerprints, eye iris prints, facial features, tone of voice, signature, and CURP (Unique Population Registry Code) number.
This is an attempt to reduce the number of extortions and kidnappings that organized crime an estimated at 12 billion pesos annually.
The reform of the Federal Telecommunications and Broadcasting Law makes it mandatory for the 122 million users in the country to identify themselves, and to register in a registry when acquiring a new SIM card or a prepaid cell phone.
The required data that was approved includes:
- Name of the owner,
- mobile phone line number,
- date and time of the activation of the line purchased on the SIM card,
- full name or, where appropriate, the company name (RFC), nationality, official identification number with photograph, and CURP,
- biometric data of the user and address, and
- data from the telecommunications concessionaire, as well as the mobile line contracting scheme: postpaid or prepaid
The bill now goes to the Chamber of Representatives, where it will face scrutiny by the opposition parties, and possible alterations, before becoming law.
Source: Sipse