Comparitech today released research looking at worldwide laws regarding SIM-card registration.
According to the report, the majority of national governments (over 160) require mandatory SIM-card registration. Users must register their real name and personal details to sign up for a phone service. Just over 35 countries also require biometrics, e.g., your fingerprints or a facial scan. More countries are in the process of adding biometric requirements, or they have some requirements but not for everyone (e.g., tourists only).
Key findings Include:
- 6 countries have enforced mandatory SIM-card registration or increased restrictions in the last few years– Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cyprus, Lithuania, Maldives, and Serbia. Among these, Brunei Darussalam requests users re-register their SIMs, while Burkina Faso and the Maldives have placed limits on the number of SIM cards available to customers (two and ten per person, respectively).
- Cambodia and Thailand introduced a mandatory IMEI database, bringing the total number of countries with one of these to 24.
- Mauritius was the only country that retracted its SIM-card registration requirement. The Council of Ministers approved the decision on December 27, 2024, replacing the 2023 SIM registration rules with fresh 2024 regulations. Mobile operators must now delete all previously stored photos as well.
- In contrast, several countries introduced or strengthened their biometric identification measures, including Argentina, Eswatini (Swaziland), India, Laos, and Mauritania. Mozambique’s new requirements come into effect at the end of the year.
- What to watch: Russia is tightening its biometric registration measures. From the start of this year, any foreigners buying SIM cards in Russia will have to provide their biometrics.
The full research can be read here: https://www.comparitech.com/blog/vpn-privacy/sim-card-registration-laws/
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This entry was posted on April 23, 2025 at 1:10 pm and is filed under Commentary with tags Comparitech. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
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RESEARCH: Mandatory SIM-Card Laws Across the Globe
Comparitech today released research looking at worldwide laws regarding SIM-card registration.
According to the report, the majority of national governments (over 160) require mandatory SIM-card registration. Users must register their real name and personal details to sign up for a phone service. Just over 35 countries also require biometrics, e.g., your fingerprints or a facial scan. More countries are in the process of adding biometric requirements, or they have some requirements but not for everyone (e.g., tourists only).
Key findings Include:
The full research can be read here: https://www.comparitech.com/blog/vpn-privacy/sim-card-registration-laws/
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This entry was posted on April 23, 2025 at 1:10 pm and is filed under Commentary with tags Comparitech. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.