SIM Card Legislation Review

[dob]

Did ya ever try signing on using the text message as id

I wouldn't know how.

[Magicman]

Just a thought on SIM cards and phone numbers, personal experience.
The old people's mobile wasn't working, they hardly ever use it, so I went to the shop to get a new one. Apparently they cancelled the number so I had to get a new number with the new phone. They recycle the numbers. On the SIM card for my mobile Internet, I get regular text messages from social welfare to sign on for the dole, so I assume this is a recycled number.


When this new prostitution law is brought in will all the numbers the gardai have on file for escorts be shut down, going back years even if they have been recycled since? SIM cards aren't just used in phones, they are in mobile Internet, alarm systems and a few other things as well.

Just a thought

Food for thought.

By criminalizing the punters it will be difficult for the law to take the numbers from escorts who haven't broken the law. The fact that we, the criminals, phoned them would not constitute a case where their SIM card could be blocked.

Maybe our phones could be blocked as we were attempting to break the law using our phones. Proving that we just didn't get a wrong number might be difficult for the prosecution so maybe there are problems enforcing the proposed laws.

However with punting phones no longer a possibility we might be more vulnerable to being identified in investigations.

Escorts may have to resort to answering private numbers. Would that solve the problem?

[Half Man and Half Dildo]

First of all I believe that if a number is being used to advertise prostitution then the Gardai will have it blocked notwithstanding the fact that the advertiser of said number has been decriminalised.

Decriminalisation is nothing more than legal manoeuvring by legislators and NGO's which allows them to pursue their "prostitute-as-victim" ideology, on its own decriminalisation offers no benefits to the sex workers at all, not when everything else will be illegal - renting, advertising, phones, etc.

But not to worry, the rate of technological change always outpaces legislation.

[The Libertarian]

First of all I believe that if a number is being used to advertise prostitution then the Gardai will have it blocked notwithstanding the fact that the advertiser of said number has been decriminalised.

Decriminalisation is nothing more than legal manoeuvring by legislators and NGO's which allows them to pursue their "prostitute-as-victim" ideology, on its own decriminalisation offers no benefits to the sex workers at all, not when everything else will be illegal - renting, advertising, phones, etc.


But not to worry, the rate of technological change always outpaces legislation.

Well also any indoor sex worker working alone with clients is not criminalised in law now any way!
While this new proposed law is about raising new revenue streams for NGOs and punishing sex workers even more than clients, decriminalisation is the constitutional minefield it will fail on - How can a phone number be taken from a non criminal? How can a non criminal be thrown onto the streets by a landlord? How can it be illegal to buy a service legally offered for sale?
None of those things are constitutionally possible, how could they be?
The easiest rule to get around would be the phone restriction one in any case, just buy a UK sim in Tescos in Newry and punters do likewise or get one here while it's still possible without having to register!

[Half Man and Half Dildo]

Well also any indoor sex worker working alone with clients is not criminalised in law now any way!
While this new proposed law is about raising new revenue streams for NGOs and punishing sex workers even more than clients, decriminalisation is the constitutional minefield it will fail on - How can a phone number be taken from a non criminal? How can a non criminal be thrown onto the streets by a landlord? How can it be illegal to buy a service legally offered for sale?
None of those things are constitutionally possible, how could they be?
The easiest rule to get around would be the phone restriction one in any case, just buy a UK sim in Tescos in Newry and punters do likewise or get one here while it's still possible without having to register!

I hope you are right, but I doubt it because:

If a phone number is being used in the commission of a crime the Gardai could have it blocked regardless of who owns that number.

If prostitution occurs on a rented premises the owner of the property will be forced to evict the tenant or face prosecution themselves. The landlord may not want to do this, but the law will force them into this course of action.

If the proposed law is to fail it will probably do so on the legal to sell \ illegal to buy provision.

[Calidude]

Maybe I made this point before, but... by the same reasoning shouldn't all paper, pens and postage stamps be registered?

[The Libertarian]

I hope you are right, but I doubt it because:

If a phone number is being used in the commission of a crime the Gardai could have it blocked regardless of who owns that number.

If prostitution occurs on a rented premises the owner of the property will be forced to evict the tenant or face prosecution themselves. The landlord may not want to do this, but the law will force them into this course of action.

If the proposed law is to fail it will probably do so on the legal to sell \ illegal to buy provision.

I would have thought that a crime has to be proven to have taken place and suspicion without it being proven in court is not sufficient! Also will 'prostitution' as such become a crime under the insane recommendations, it's again more or less everything to do with prostitution related activities rather than 'prostitution' per se, when you really boil it down.

[Cable87]

I would have thought that a crime has to be proven to have taken place and suspicion without it being proven in court is not sufficient! Also will 'prostitution' as such become a crime under the insane recommendations, it's again more or less everything to do with prostitution related activities rather than 'prostitution' per se, when you really boil it down.

You make some relevant points here, but remember that the issue here isn't just about the use of a phone in commission of (an alleged) crime, it's also the invasion of privacy that's at stake. Even if it wouldn't or couldn't stand alone as 'proof' that you went for a punt with an escort if the Swedish Model should end up come in, it almost definitely would be used as strong supporting evidence which would be difficult to argue your way out of, as all new SIMS would have to be registered and ID shown in order to purchase it. It could be a strong additional tool for the proponents of the Swedish Model to use against both punters and escorts.

[Johnco]

You make some relevant points here, but remember that the issue here isn't just about the use of a phone in commission of (an alleged) crime, it's also the invasion of privacy that's at stake. Even if it wouldn't or couldn't stand alone as 'proof' that you went for a punt with an escort if the Swedish Model should end up come in, it almost definitely would be used as strong supporting evidence which would be difficult to argue your way out of, as all new SIMS would have to be registered and ID shown in order to purchase it. It could be a strong additional tool for the proponents of the Swedish Model to use against both punters and escorts.

So what your saying is get your sim cards now.

[Cable87]

So what your saying is get your sim cards now.

Indeed mate, it's the best way to ensure your privacy.