Missed Connections? Evaluating the Global Spread and Legality of Mandatory SIM Registration in a Modern National Security Context

Image taken by David B. Gleason, retrieved from flickr.com
Image taken by David B. Gleason, retrieved from flickr.com
In popular culture, a “burner” phone is a pre-paid cell phone which can be “purchased without providing a name or Social Security number.” Also known as a “dope” phone, it is typically a low-cost disposable device purchased with cash, without a contract, and, therefore, which has no “subscriber” or “owner” information associated with it. In contrast, phones purchased on a contract or lock-in basis require the submission of identity and basic contact information to the service provider for billing and related purposes…