Namibia ‘mandatory SIM card registration “eases & enables” indiscriminate mass surveillance of the digital communications of everyone operating a SIM card or internet connection in Namibia’ <twas always so https://namibian.com.na/sim-card-registration-and-the-spy-agency/#SimReg is a gross human rights violating measure implemented in approx 162 countries. Mobile telcos & the trade association the GSMA have little to challenge it
I learned this week that there are prepaid SIM numbers that are not showing up in their database hence there is no need to SIM reg.
What is interesting is that, these SIM numbers also doesn't expire. You can use it regularly for SMS and calls, load it, some even have unlimited data (enable a low-tier Internet data and it becomes unlimited).
Here's the kicker, there are people who are looking for these numbers and will buy it for a very high premium. Though I'm suspecting these are from the mobile operators because they are hunting these numbers so they can disable it.
“While we understand the importance of addressing crimes, misinformation, and scams, the Mozilla Philippines Community firmly believes that the policy neglects the critical role of online anonymity in safeguarding whistleblowers and promoting public discourse. Additionally, the deployment of digital identity systems may create security risks that could have catastrophic effects in the event of a data breach.”