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The Government’s latest scheme to keep tabs on British citizens hasn’t gone down too well. Not only are Gordon Brown’s plans to require ID before purchasing a phone playing on our minds, but Vodafone’s waded in with a damning assessment of its own.
We’ve just received a statement from the mobile network, slamming the Government’s plan for “excluding” those without official forms of ID.
“Pay as you talk helps ensure our customers have access to important communications services without a requirement to register,” Vodafone explains. “It means those without a permanent address or those who do not have official forms of ID such as a passport, are not excluded from using mobile services.
“Vodafone UK therefore does not support mandatory registration for pre-pay customers and has not made any contingency plans to start requiring registration for the purposes of a data collection scheme.”
Distancing itself from the growing concern, the company stated (in a bold font, no less) that “Vodafone has not been in talks with the Government about these proposals.”
Fair enough, but we think Vodafone should be in talks with the Government. The company’s stance is admirable, but today’s statement only serves to wash its hands of blame, rather than standing up for customers’ rights.
In short, Vodafone. Don’t tell us, tell the Government!
TBC | £TBC | Vodafone
