Malicious Life Podcast: SIM Registration: Security, or Surveillance?

This transcript examines Namibia’s nationwide SIM card registration initiative, highlighting low initial turnout, government deadline extensions, and controversy over dominant telco MTC collecting biometric data beyond the law in a country lacking comprehensive data protection legislation. It underscores privacy, security, and governance risks of centralized identity-linked telecom databases, contrasts Namibia’s approach with broader global practices (e.g., Nigeria’s call restrictions, Pakistan’s biometric misuse, Mexico’s repeal), and notes limited evidence that mandatory SIM registration reduces crime.