{"id":11545,"date":"2016-05-24T12:34:02","date_gmt":"2016-05-24T11:34:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/newsroom\/?p=11545"},"modified":"2016-05-24T12:34:02","modified_gmt":"2016-05-24T11:34:02","slug":"mandatory-real-name-registration-prepaid-sim-card-users-considerations-policymakers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/newsroom\/article\/mandatory-real-name-registration-prepaid-sim-card-users-considerations-policymakers\/","title":{"rendered":"Mandatory \u2018real name\u2019 registration by prepaid SIM card users: Considerations for policymakers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mandatory registration of prepaid SIM cards is a policy that a number of governments have adopted in recent years. It requires consumers to provide proof of identity in order to activate a prepaid mobile SIM card. The primary justification for this policy is that having a named individual associated with every mobile connection could help law enforcement agencies apprehend criminals, leading to a reduction in criminal and anti-social behaviour.<\/p>\n

To date, there has been no empirical evidence to demonstrate a direct link between the introduction of SIM registration and a reduction in associated crime. Nevertheless, prepaid SIM registration is currently mandated in around 90 countries but there is no consistent approach in how the policy is developed or implemented across these countries.<\/p>\n

The GSMA has just published a new report<\/a>, which highlights best practices and opportunities in countries where SIM registration is implemented effectively. It also outlines a number of challenges and inconsistencies around the implementation of SIM registration policies. Finally, the report proposes recommendations for policymakers who are considering introducing or updating SIM registration policies in their respective countries.<\/p>\n

Some of the key takeaways from the GSMA\u2019s work on this topic are outlined below:<\/p>\n

\u2018Proof of ID\u2019 requirements vary significantly across countries\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n

The types of customer identity documents that mobile operators are asked to check as part of mandatory SIM registration processes vary \u2013 from government-issued identity cards and passports, to letters from the \u2018village chief\u2019 certifying the identity of the person being registered. However, in a number of countries, consumers who lack any official proof of ID risk being disconnected from mobile communications altogether. Current estimates suggest that there are 1.5 billion people around the world who do not have any form of identity and would therefore be unable to register a mobile SIM in their own name, where SIM registration is mandated. Consequently (and ironically), the same policy that aims to reduce crime may be taking away those consumers\u2019 means to report a crime or call emergency services.<\/p>\n

Effective identity verification requires a way to check the authenticity of ID documents <\/strong><\/p>\n

Most SIM registration policies require mobile operators to verify the user\u2019s identity documents or even take their biometric measurements (e.g. thumbprints). However, these attributes can only be effectively verified against an official database where such details had been formally logged through a government-led registration campaign or at the point of issue. <\/strong>In several countries where SIM registration is mandated, mobile operators can record the required details that the customer presents during the registration process but have no means to verify their authenticity because of a lack of national identity databases. Where such verification means are unavailable, the registration process could be compromised, either deliberately (where a customer produces fraudulent documents) or as a result of human error (by the person recording the registration details).<\/p>\n

Operators are in a unique position to offer a form of digital identity to those who lack any identity documents <\/strong><\/p>\n

With the increasing importance of citizens having a secure digital identity and where there are issues with the availability of official identity documents, there may be a role for operators to support the government in the creation of a unique identity that can be authenticated and used for a variety of mobile and non-mobile services. This will, in part, help individuals who lack formal identity documents to access communication services but also potentially financial, e-Government and other value-added services that could deliver incremental value \u2013 not just to people\u2019s lives but also to economic growth, through the uptake of new services via the mobile platform and the creation of jobs, etc.<\/p>\n

Clearly, while mobile operators should not replace the role of the state as the provider of a legal identity, they are uniquely placed to help underserved members of society benefit from services that would otherwise be unavailable to them as unregistered users. The GSMA is currently investigating these opportunities as part of its Digital Identity programme<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Increasing the opportunity to use mobile registration data for value-added services also increases the incentive to clean and maintain accurate data. This benefits consumers, governments and operators, to the extent that the registration requirements are proportional, reasonable from a cost perspective and any risks of social exclusion or to consumers\u2019 privacy are mitigated.<\/p>\n

Six recommendations for governments considering mandating SIM registration <\/strong><\/p>\n

The GSMA report<\/a> concludes by making six recommendations to policymakers who are considering introducing or revising their SIM registration policies. These recommendations could be summarised as follows:<\/p>\n