Law Proposed to Track All Pre-paid Cell Phones

wtf is up with that picture?

that is racism!

lol.. so why would you choose this photo to represent this topic? Stereotype much??? Rofl!

Here in Australia, you can easily pick up a new sim with $20 credit for $2, vodafone starter pack lol.

Lol yeah this is some pretty racist stuff right here. While I've known a lot of black friends to sell pot(etc) that is still profiling. Anyways in regards to the content of the text I hear the groans of drug dealers everywhere(of ALL skin colors). Which isn't exactly a bad thing as far as the dealing of controlled substances and the crime associated with it. However I see the inter-country dealing of marijuana as a grey area.

So the next guy will just use a pay phone or maybe even `borrow` a phone from someone when they aren't looking. There are plenty of other contact mediums as well. Why should the rest of us suffer? This bill is just as bad as DRM.

If this is about the botched bombings, shouldn't the pic be of terrorists?

It's from one of those hit HBO shows

I like this idea. I can see how this might upset the few who love prepaid phones, but if you are a law abiding citizen then you have nothing to worry about. But what is gonna stop if they use some pawn to buy the phone? What are the charges for purchasing a prepaid phone used in a crime? Maybe it will still help.

I just see this as another attack on anonymity, such as the hot question for the internet to allow anonymous users or not...you can't have freedom without the free..but it also seems you have to lose it all before people as a whole care.

yes glorian same ol meme everybody who thinks they are above the law has..if your innocent why do you care that your guilty first right, your only asking for trouble.

You guys are idiots regarding that picture!!!! Its from the HBO series "The Wire" and all the drug dealers in the series used prepaid cell phones to slip the NARCs

Im not sure a lot of people knew about that, not even i did. Its easy to take that picture out of context though lol.

yep

Forgetting it's from a show, the interesting part is, the people complaining about the picture, are being racist, since they wouldn't have complained if white people were put there. It's not like there is a pattern.

So, in order not to be racist, you always have to show white people when it relates to something bad? Pure hypocrisy.

I hate this whole, "If I'm a law abiding citizen I have nothing to hide" mentality... If your a law abiding citizen then you shouldn't be monitored...period. everyday we inch closer and closer to George Orwell's 1984.... "Those who give up liberty for security deserve neither liberty nor security" Ben Franklin

+1000 for "The Wire" picture!

When I first saw the pic I was taken back as well. Tom's uses pics that are sometimes funny, but relate to the topic. If you have never seen "The Wire" then yeah you have the same reaction.







This is just pure idiocy and an excuse to justify any form of racism. The problem isn't the color of the people show, the problem is how it relates to the topic. "The Sopranos" used prepaid cell phones, but they weren't depicted.

Not an attack on the author as I like Jane, but maybe should have put a caption under the pic for those who don't watch the Wire.

^ why did you have to quote all those ppl? jane needs to change that pic

They can't track my phone down!!! I don't use it

I'm black and I say this picture isn't racism.

Random, sure, but not racism. There, you have a black man's approval now. If only because you're the best author on this site.

Far from the truth. The racism is inherent in having a single, unfairly represented race present. it doesnt matter if its all blacks, whites or chinese. I personally felt offended because I myself am black and have never watched "the wire."

My grievance is not with the picture itself (since anyone with half a brain can click it and see its source, like I did), but with the manner in which it is portrayed; specifically the fact that there is no explanation for why these african american young men are emblazoning an article with this title.

Jane, i usually like your articles, but this is a grave failure on your part, and i'd like to see you correct this with a small caption explaining the picture.

No it's not easy to take the picture out of context. If the first thing you saw was color, and screamed racism chances are you're the racist one.

I'd put money on it if it was 4 white guys nobody would claim racism. And why is it only racism why isn't it also discremantion. Are there no women criminals? I cry foul.

Well honestly it was implied just like it was viewed. I love the wire I think it was one of the best shows ever made. But alot of people dont even know what the wire was so thats where the reaction comes from. Im not racially sensetive at all but im kinda irritated, let me tell you why. If you read the article it states that it will be used to "track down and find people". The question is doin what? Then Jane threw up the pic of black people selling drugs. Thats excatly what the 2 senetors were thinking when they are trying to get this law passed they just couldnt be a flagrant like jane was.

So it will be used to track down drug dealers.

And yes Im a 29 year old black man.

I like Jane and I think shes the only one around there that has some sense but made a poor judgment call.

But I think this will end like all the post I write calling out Marcus and Tuan; It will be deleted and I will be banned. There is no accountability at toms especially with Marcus and Tuan.

So read this while you can before I get banned for speaking in a tone that toms doesnt like.

That's right... so get a picture of a Middle-eastern male next time. Jeez!

I'm not going to ban you, you have a right to your own opinion. But I have to disagree, I don't think it's wrong to use a picture from a well known TV show (popular enough to make it across the pond to the UK and Ireland in late 2008) in which the characters use prepaid cell phones to run a drug ring and it presents a major problem for the police.

Maybe instead of forcing companies to track all pre-paid phones, the government should do its job of tracking suspicious people.

Have added a note to the article explaining the the characters in the picture actually evade the law using prepaid cell phones. Hopefully that should clear things up. I'm genuinely sorry if I caused anyone any offense. That was definitely not my intention.

Like they aren't already tracking?

hahaha she had to add info about the pic to not look racist hahahaha

They chip away at every little piece of privacy we have left. It won't be much longer before you will need to show your papers just to walk down the street. I'm trying to think of where I have seen such a society before. Drawing a bit of a blank, seem to recall a guy with a funny mustache and something about a hammer and sickle.

So, what, I'll just register my prepaid for a Mr. Anon Ymous, who lives at #69 No Where St.?

Unintentional racism is the best kind!