California Approves Smartphone ‘Kill Switch’ Bill

The California legislature
yesterday passed a bill requiring that smartphones sold in the
state be equipped with an anti-theft “kill switch” that can
remotely render the device inoperable if stolen.

S.B.
962, which was introduced by Sen. Mark Leno (D-San Francisco)
and passed 28-8, is unique among state-level kill switch bills,
because it “would require manufacturers to prompt consumers to
enable the ‘kill switch’ at the initial setup of a new device,” as
opposed to letting customers opt-in later, explains
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ).

“I think as any number of issues here in California, when we act
it becomes the de facto way business is done across the country,”

says Leno, who believes that his bill will help end the
“epidemic”
of smartphone thefts. “About 3.1 million American consumers were
victims of smart phone theft in 2013,”
according to Consumer Reports. That’s a lot, but not that much
in the grand scheme of things. There are an estimated
327,577,529 mobile phones (not even counting the
other mobile devices) in use in the U.S., which is more phones
than citizens.

The state stands to make some cash by passing the law. One
provision declares that “the knowing retail sale of a smartphone in
California in violation of [the law] may be subject to a civil
penalty of not less than five hundred dollars ($500), nor more than
two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500), per smartphone sold in
California in violation.”

Although it seems like a step forward now, legislation moves at
a much slower pace than technology, so S.B. 962 regulations may be
holding back future innovations by the time the ink dries. The
cellphone industry isn’t opposed to anti-theft tools; there

exist plenty of them already.

The Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association
issued a statement in opposition to the bill, noting some
foreseeable downsides:

We urge the Governor to not sign this bill, since uniformity in
the wireless industry created tremendous benefits for wireless
consumers, including lower costs and phenomenal innovation. State
by state technology mandates, such as this one, stifle those
benefits and are detrimental to wireless consumers.

New York, Illinois, and Rhode Island are considering kill switch
bills, and Minnesota passed one this year.

Gov. Jerry Brown has 12 days to take action on the bill. A
spokesman for the governor told WSJ that he won’t comment on
pending legislation. If he does approve, the bill would take effect
in July 2015.