California State Senate has passed a bill to integrate "kill switches" in smartphones that can brick the phones if stolen, taking the bill one step closer toward its final approval from the Governor.
The California State Senate passed the long-standing controversial bill that requires smartphones and other mobile devices sold within the state to be equipped with a "kill switch" feature in a hardware or software form so it can be rendered useless if lost or stolen. The main idea behind the move is to put an end to the alarming smartphone thefts statewide.
The bill, sponsored by Senator Mark Leno and supported by San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon, requires all phone manufacturers to add a "kill switch" to the smartphones that can be controlled by the rightful owner to brick the phones when lost or stolen. According to the bill, software, hardware or both can be integrated to prevent the misuse and resale of the device. With the power of the kill switch, hard reset will prevent reactivation of the device without an authorization from the device's owner.
The bill had to undergo certain changes before it could get the necessary votes for its approval. Sen. Leno excluded electronics tablets from the bill and postponed the implementation of kill switches in smartphones from January to July, 2015. As a result, Apple, Microsoft and Google among other tech companies agreed to add kill switches in their future handsets. By getting California State's approval, the SB962 bill is a step closer to getting a final verdict from Governor Jerry Brown.
"We're one step closer to ending the violence and victimization that far too many people have been subjected to. California truly has an opportunity to lead the way and end this public safety crisis, the potential to end this global epidemic is very real," Gascon said in a statement from his office, according to Tech Times.
Also, violating the bill's terms will attract a penalty of at least $500 and up to $2,500, the commission's media release said.
Smartphone theft has become a serious concern in the U.S. According to a recent survey by Consumer Reports, the number of U.S. victims of smartphone robberies has doubled since 2012, L.A. Times reports. In San Francisco alone, around 67 percent of all robberies involve smartphones and a report from New York Times said 113 smartphones are either lost or stolen every minute in the U.S. Adding a kill switch to a smartphone is the first step by the government to fight the rising concern.
"We have to get into the minds of these criminals and convince them that the crime is not worth their while," Leno said ahead of the vote, which passed by a 26-8 margin, Tech Times reported.
