"Am I therefore become your enemy,because I TELL YOU THE TRUTH...?"
(Galatians 4:16)

BIG BROTHER WATCH:Plan for identity checks to buy SIM card

BUYING a mobile phone Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card could soon require the same identity checks as opening a bank account.
One hundred points of identification,including a passport or birth certificate,would be required for a SIM card under the police plan,to counter terrorism and crack down on organised crime.The proposal was widely endorsed by state and territory police commissioners during discussions at the federal inquiry into the future impact of serious and organised crime on Australian society.
NSW Police Commissioner Ken Moroney said it was feared Cronulla-style riots and violence could occur during APEC via mass text messaging and use of rent-a-crowds.He said changes to regulate the purchase and distribution of SIM cards were needed to fight terrorism."I think it (100-point ID check) would help us identify those who are responsible for crime and it also assists in our focus on terrorism,"Mr Moroney said."As far as the NSW Police are concerned,we are seeking greater regulation in terms of the acquisition of explosives within a terrorism context and it would seem sensible that there be similar thinking in terms of how we regulate the issue of SIM cards."Joint Committee on the Australian Crime Commission committee member,Liberal MP Jason Wood,said criminals often registered SIM cards under fake names such as Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck.He said the new 100-point ID check would make buying a SIM card similar to opening a bank account."The police were very uniform in their call in the committee hearing,"Mr Wood said."They were unanimous saying they support the 100 point ID check and how it will have a major impact on crime in Australia."As an anti-terrorism measure, it would be effective in the awful event an attack does happen."It gives investigators a first point of call to find out addresses and it can be useful in preventing secondary attacks."The proposal arose partly out of police frustration at catching drug traffickers and other criminals who change SIM cards up to six times a day."It will make it more difficult for villains to go out and get SIM cards in false names and therefore they are going to have to use their own identification,"Mr Wood said.The Sunday Telegraph reports that Premier Morris Iemma has written to Prime Minister John Howard to warn him about violence during APEC unless police are given powers to search SMS content when the mobile phone user is unknown.
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22110543-2,00.html
As in the days of Noah....