In an interview with Pamela Cerdeira on MVS Noticias, Ernesto Piedras, CEO of The Competitive Intelligence Unit, discussed the start of mandatory registration of mobile phone lines with official user identification in Mexico.
Starting this month, Mexico is launching a new attempt to regulate mobile phone use under the government’s argument of combating extortion. However, experts argue that the measure not only lacks technological effectiveness against organized crime, but also presents almost impossible logistical challenges and potential violations of constitutional rights.
Ernesto Piedras described the process as a “titanic task,” noting that the number of lines to be registered reached 160.3 million at the end of last year. With a deadline of the last day of June, the expert detailed the operational unfeasibility of the measure.
“Registering 1 million lines a day means registering 47,666 lines per hour, 24/7. I haven’t seen any specialized software or any training provided to people,” Piedras warned.
The director of The CIU highlighted that 83% of the market is prepaid, the segment with the highest turnover and where the greatest challenge in data linkage lies.
The official narrative maintains that the registry will allow for tracking crimes; however, critics point out that criminals already operate with international or digital lines that don’t require such registration. Furthermore, there is a precedent of failure in past administrations.
“This process has already failed twice under the administrations of López Obrador and Felipe Calderón… even if we had a national registry today, that won’t stop digital theft,” the analyst concluded.
Adding to the inefficiency, concerns have arisen regarding the protection of personal data and information security against potential leaks, a constant fear for Mexican users.
One of the most controversial points is the threat of canceling voice and data connectivity for those who do not register before July. According to Piedras, this could unleash a legal battle.
“Our Constitution speaks of the basic right of citizens to connectivity. A flood of injunctions would follow because it would prevent us from accessing culture, education, remote work, and e-commerce,” he explained.
The process can be carried out in person at the operators with official identification or through digital platforms that the companies enable for this purpose, even for postpaid users who need to update their information.
Source: mvsnoticias
