California Close To Making Smartphone Kill Switch Law

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If this proves workable, i'd like to think it's going to be rolled out. If it's build into the phone, it'll probably be on every phone, but only operational when a phone is sold in California.

A bill requiring smartphone makers to include antitheft software on devices sold in California is one step away from becoming law.California Close To Making Smartphone Kill Switch Law [cnet.com]

A bill that mandates antitheft technology to come pre-installed on all smartphones sold in California is headed to the governor after passing a final California Senate vote on Monday.

The bill, introduced by state Sen. Mark Leno and sponsored by San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon, asks that device makers put so-called "kill-switch" technology on every smartphone, though users could choose to opt-out of the security services. The software lets users lock the phone if it is stolen, making it inoperable.

The bill passed with a 27 to 8 vote.

[ken_b]

Minnesota was first
[usatoday.com...]

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Aha! Thanks, I didn't know that.