Latest Breaking News

SpankMe

(3,807 posts)

18. Yours is not a burner phone

Tue Jun 9, 2026, 08:30 PM

Jun 9

This is because you have an account with Tracfone and you buy time as you go.

Burner phones are stand-alone phones that require no account. They are completely untethered to an individual. You buy it, activate it it without going online or creating an account. Then you call your uncle Larry's liquor store and ask if they have Prince Albert in a can.

Their official rationle is to combat evil because drug dealers, kidnappers and terrorists use burner phones to commit crime and escape detection.

Unofficially (and in reality) they're adding to the capabilities of a surveillance state. Republicans are going on the assumption that they'll never be out of power again and are throwing every lever available to create and maintain their conservative utopian hell in America.

Something this extreme should require legislation and not simply be a regulatory choice of a federal department. I can't see how this rule fits in to the regulatory mission of FCC.

This is exactly the kind of thing Republicans rail against when Dems are in charge. Every little regulation is framed as 'unelected bureaucrats overstepping their authority to oppress America'.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

4 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Jack Valentino efhmc Karma13612 keep_left

37 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

FCC Wants to Kill Burner Phones By Forcing Telecoms to Get All Customers' IDs [View all] highplainsdem Jun 9 OP

So how will MAGA shitcasters exchange messages by shady bot filled Russian social media apps? Initech Jun 9 #1

They can't even regulate the old wireline/VOIP lines mdbl Jun 9 #2

They want to track us 24/7/365. WestMichRad Jun 9 #3

Technofascism Is Coming 2na fisherman Jun 9 #8

It's all MY FAULT! They want to stop all my burner phone threats to evil Republican politicians.... Jack Valentino Jun 9 #25

I get why this is controversial genxlib Jun 9 #4

Agreed. The Madcap Jun 9 #5

Freedom is scary, isn't it. ret5hd Jun 9 #23

Yes, they are often used for nefarious purposes Jilly_in_VA Jun 9 #6

Every "current"mystery I read has someone with a burner phone trying to hide. efhmc Jun 10 #30

Republicans never cared for privacy of the public dave99 Jun 9 #7

This will destroy pay as you go phone options for millions of americans who don't want to be tied to a contract. nt ImNotGod Jun 9 #9

See, this is the part I don't understand.. Karma13612 Jun 9 #15

Yours is not a burner phone SpankMe Jun 9 #18

Well what was the answer? Did he have Prince Albert in a can or not? efhmc Jun 10 #31

Ohhhh! Karma13612 Jun 10 #32

Taken to its logical end, just track everyone always. OC375 Jun 9 #10

Track everyone, always? WestMichRad Jun 9 #12

it also smacks of "if you're doing nothing wrong you've got nothing to worry about" Skittles Jun 9 #13

Yep. Fascists LOVE to use that line as a justification for every fucking thing they do. Karasu Jun 9 #22

yes Skittles Jun 9 #29

Exactly OC375 Jun 9 #16

Your implanted chip not fooled Jun 9 #26

But that will mess up all the cop shows on TV. DavidDvorkin Jun 9 #11

Once again, the Party of Liberty and Small Government dalton99a Jun 9 #14

Scared shitless of the coming protests orangecrush Jun 9 #17

Now do crypto! purr-rat beauty Jun 9 #19

They did this in Mexico and gangsta's just had another person buy their phone and use their ID Card. n/t Jacson6 Jun 9 #20

This is a level of fascism you aren't seeing in any other "first-world" country. They are pushing the surveillance shit Karasu Jun 9 #21

That's just great. A new market for identity thieves... hunter Jun 9 #24

Using their argument dark money PACs should be abolished as well and donors should register. cstanleytech Jun 9 #27

Can't wait to ditch cell phones upon retirement. OC375 Jun 9 #28

how will this stop scammers calling from India for example? Layzeebeaver Jun 10 #33

People think cell phones are private? twodogsbarking Jun 10 #34

It's for national security. twodogsbarking Jun 10 #35

They are hypocrites. SamuelAdams Jun 10 #36

Does this include the Trump family's burner phones? travelingthrulife Jun 10 #37