This is a huge problem, and I think it's a good idea to legislate this (depending on the precise text of the bill) due to the positive externalities involved. I wrote a blog post making this argument:
NO! This is a private matter, not one for legislation. It simply gives big brother the means to stop us completely from talking with anyone not in shouting distance. Terribly, terribly dangerous.
Comments
This is a huge problem, and I think it's a good idea to legislate this (depending on the precise text of the bill) due to the positive externalities involved. I wrote a blog post making this argument:
http://andrewro.in/post/75915934983/forcing-antitheft-techno...
The HuffPo article misunderstood the $30 billion figure. It is provided by a company that sells a cell phone recovery app/service:
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20120322005325/en/Look....
It is their estimate of how much lost and stolen phones cost Americans, not the worldwide market for stolen phones.
NO! This is a private matter, not one for legislation. It simply gives big brother the means to stop us completely from talking with anyone not in shouting distance. Terribly, terribly dangerous.