Hi Mark, > It's not that bad - happens all the time to many of the > countries I've been.
This cannot be judged acceptable solely on the basis that it's a common occurrence. This system seems to introduce more problems than it solves: It does not appear that it will have a meaningful impact on Uganda's overall level of security (e.g. it will not prevent terrorist attacks, kidnappings, or extortion), it will harm SMEs (e.g. small shops, kiosks) by banning them from selling SIMs, and will create a massive centralized photographic/fingerprint database of all Ugandans which will be extremely vulnerable to abuse. > Besides, when you purchase an Internet access service, you > register your details. Not in Uganda. I've purchased a variety of Internet packages over the years and have never registered my details. Unregistered SIMs rain from the sky at promotional events and retail outlets either don't ask or don't care what your name is. > In many ways, when you actually login > to use the service, your username can be associated with > your details at any time. Unless your service doesn't require an access user/pass (e.g. any pre-paid mobile broadband service). HTTPS et al will take care of the rest. On a side note, I recently purchased three pre-paid SIMs on two separate occasions (one voice SIM and two unlimited voice/sms/data SIMs) in the USA without showing ID or giving any contact details other than a name. I certainly didn't have to get my photograph and fingerprints taken -- that just wouldn't fly here. Regards, Kyle Spencer On Tue, Jan 3, 2012 at 1:02 PM, Mark Tinka <[email protected]> wrote: > On Tuesday, January 03, 2012 05:58:17 PM > [email protected] wrote: > >> *sigh* and so it begins... :( the long slippery slope >> towards non-anonymous Internet access. Been there, >> fought that. > > It's not that bad - happens all the time to many of the > countries I've been. > > Besides, when you purchase an Internet access service, you > register your details. In many ways, when you actually login > to use the service, your username can be associated with > your details at any time. > > The sky isn't falling. > > Mark. > > _______________________________________________ > The Uganda Linux User Group: http://linux.or.ug > > Send messages to this mailing list by addressing e-mails to: [email protected] > Mailing list archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > Mailing list settings: http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/lug > To unsubscribe: http://kym.net/mailman/options/lug > > The Uganda LUG mailing list is generously hosted by INFOCOM: > http://www.infocom.co.ug/ > > The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including > attachments if any). The mailing list host is not responsible for them in any > way. _______________________________________________ The Uganda Linux User Group: http://linux.or.ug Send messages to this mailing list by addressing e-mails to: [email protected] Mailing list archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ Mailing list settings: http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/lug To unsubscribe: http://kym.net/mailman/options/lug The Uganda LUG mailing list is generously hosted by INFOCOM: http://www.infocom.co.ug/ The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including attachments if any). The mailing list host is not responsible for them in any way.
