The US regulatory body, the FCC, is considering introducing a mandatory identification requirement for prepaid phone users. This could effectively spell the end for so-called ‘burner phones’. Telecom companies would be required to register a user’s name, address, and identification numbers before a SIM card can be activated.

According to the FCC, expanding this Know-Your-Customer (KYC) requirement will help reduce robocalls and make it easier to identify scammers operating on mobile networks. However, privacy organizations such as the EFF and the Center for Democracy & Technology are highly critical of the proposal. They warn that telecom customers will be forced to surrender their privacy and personal information. This disproportionately affects vulnerable groups, such as domestic abuse survivors, who currently rely on the ability to purchase phones anonymously. Furthermore, there are strong warnings about the potential for government abuse of this collected data.

The public was able to submit feedback on the proposal until today, yielding a large number of critical responses. Following a second feedback period ending on July 27, the FCC will issue a final decision.