YOU ARE AT:DevicesKilling the kill switch: California votes down anti-theft bill

Killing the kill switch: California votes down anti-theft bill

California’s state legislature has voted down a cell phone “kill switch” bill by a narrow margin. The bill would have required carriers to be sure that all phones sold in the state included a remote deactivation feature. The bill was introduced by California Senator Mark Leno. Leno represents San Francisco, where an estimated 50% of all robberies involve a smartphone.

Nationwide, a third of all robberies involve smartphones, according to the FCC. Wireless carriers have argued that a so-called kill switch app may not be the answer, because it could open the door for hackers to disable smartphones. California district attorney George Gascon has suggested that carriers are also interested in protecting the insurance programs they offer, which protect subscribers in the event of cell phone theft.

Earlier this month, CTIA The Wireless Association announced a voluntary anti-theft program that includes the participation of all the major U.S. carriers, as well as Apple, Samsung, Google, HTC, Huawei, Motorola Mobility and Microsoft. This measure would give consumers the option of downloading remote deactivation software for phones that do not have the software pre-loaded.

Meanwhile device manufacturers have been responding to pressure to make their smartphones less attractive to thieves. Apple added a deactivation feature to Find My iPhone which requires a user’s Apple ID to be entered before Find My iPhone can be disabled. Samsung works with LoJack, and its new Galaxy S5 has a reactivation lock which prevents a locked phone from being reactivated by a factory reset.

ABOUT AUTHOR

Martha DeGrasse
Martha DeGrassehttp://www.nbreports.com
Martha DeGrasse is the publisher of Network Builder Reports (nbreports.com). At RCR, Martha authored more than 20 in-depth feature reports and more than 2,400 news articles. She also created the Mobile Minute and the 5 Things to Know Today series. Prior to joining RCR Wireless News, Martha produced business and technology news for CNN and Dow Jones in New York and managed the online editorial group at Hoover’s Online before taking a number of years off to be at home when her children were young. Martha is the board president of Austin's Trinity Center and is a member of the Women's Wireless Leadership Forum.