Last year, in an effort to help reduce crime the Mexican government passed a law that required all pre-paid, anonymous mobile phone users to submit their personal information to their wireless provider and have their cellular line linked with their name and personal information.  The law was enacted to try and combat what Mexican authorities called “mobile extortion.”

Many ransom demands from organized crime and drug cartel kidnappings are often made via anonymous, pre-paid cell phones.  This is also the preferred method of communication for ‘common criminals” in Mexico.

The vast majority of Mexico’s estimated 84 million mobile phones are of the pre-paid variety.  With a weekend deadline looming for compliance with this new law over 30 million pre-paid users have failed to submit their information to the wireless companies.  If users do not submit their information by the deadline the wireless companies have been instructed to shut off these devices that are not in compliance.

As is the case with many laws there is opposition to this new ruling.  Critics say that these criminals will just register their devices with fake or other people’s credentials.  These critics also feel that denying the Mexican people access to cell phones, including unlocked cell phones, is a violation of their constitutional rights under Mexican law.  Telcom company America Movil is predicting losses of around $10 million a day if the 30 million unregistered lines are actually shut down.

While this new law seems like a good idea on paper I am sure it will not entirely deter the criminals from committing their crimes.  They may need to develop a new method of communication or register their mobile device in a fake name but will more than likely not stop crime altogether.