A new law planned in Latvia to require registration for prepaid SIM cards has drawn criticism from a cybersecurity expert, who questions its effectiveness and potential impact on privacy.
The Latvian government recently approved a proposal from the Ministry of Interior to mandate registration for prepaid SIM cards starting October 1, according to reports.
Software engineer and “fraud hunter” Elviss Strazdiņš questioned the reasoning behind the legislation, stating, “No one sees the point of this law.” He told TV24’s “Preses klubs” discussion that he has spoken with representatives from all telephone operators and several institutions, and none could articulate a clear benefit to the measure.
Strazdiņš expressed a desire to understand the discussions that led to the law’s proposal. While acknowledging the law could be a means of increased surveillance – “making it very simple to discover the person needed by the relevant authorities” and effectively ending anonymity – he sees few other advantages beyond “microscopic” gains.
He predicted the law will create a need for individuals to mass-purchase and register SIM cards, stating, “Now, ‘mule’ workers will be needed at SIM card farms, who will massively buy these cards and register them in their name.” Strazdiņš added that the issue of fraud originates elsewhere, noting, “It all comes from the east and southeast, and they don’t care about our laws, and we always need to remember that.”
Strazdiņš believes the law will primarily restrict law-abiding citizens. He stated he doesn’t oppose such laws in principle, but cautioned against expecting them to improve security, suggesting a focus on the root causes of SIM card-related problems is needed.
Strazdiņš too suggested the law could be a form of control, as it would eliminate anonymity. The move underscores growing concerns about privacy in the digital age.
