Good Idea? CA Bill Would Make 'Kill Switch' a Requirement on Cell Phones Sold in State

Information submitted by Office of Assemblymember Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley):

New smartphones sold in California would be required to have the latest in anti-theft technology under a measure that passed out of the California Assembly this week. The legislation, by Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) and Assemblymember Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), now heads back to the Senate for a final vote before going to the Governor.

“No one should be in fear of being mugged or robbed just because they are using their cell phones,” Skinner said on Thursday. “Today’s Assembly vote in support of SB 962, the kill switch bill, is a victory for consumer safety.”

Senate Bill 962 would require smartphones sold in California to include anti-theft security features that would render the device inoperable if stolen. Specifically, the measure calls for a technological solution to deactivate the phone. In order to keep up with evolving technology, the bill does not specify how manufacturers can meet the requirements. This will allow industry to use their creativity and innovation to help solve this problem.

“The alarming rate at which smartphones are being stolen in every city in America cannot be ignored. It’s incumbent upon us to remove every incentive for robberies,” Oakland Mayor Jean Quan said. “I’m proud to support this legislation, because it is a needed step in keeping Oakland residents, and smartphone owners across California, safer.”

According to the National Consumers League, 1.6 million Americans had a handheld device stolen in 2012. In San Francisco, about 50 percent of property crimes involve mobile devices. In Oakland, about 60 percent of thefts and robberies in 2013 involved a cellphone.

Oakland Councilmember Dan Kalb expressed support for SB 962, sharing his personal experience.

“Over a year ago, I was robbed of my iPhone at gunpoint while returning home from an anti-crime meeting in North Oakland—and I am just one example of an all-to-common occurrence,” said Councilmember Kalb. “While other serious crimes are down, armed robberies of smartphones are up in Oakland and other cities. The smartphone robbery epidemic will only get worse unless we take the necessary action to protect our citizenry and deter this type of crime.”

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