Theft control: California leaders push for ‘kill switch

“We require the cell-phone industry to take the necessary steps to curb violent smartphone thefts and protect the safety of the consumers,” he added. PHOTO: FILE

SAN FRANSISCO: 

Californian leaders want to make it compulsory for smartphones or tablets sold in the state to have built-in “kill switches” to counter the rocketing number of thefts of the devices.

Sponsors called the bill the first of its kind in the United States, where opponents fear that it may allow hackers to shut down people’s devices.

 “With robberies of smartphones reaching an all-time high, California cannot continue to stand by when a solution to the problem is readily available,” said Leno, a democrat representing San Francisco.

“We require the cell-phone industry to take the necessary steps to curb violent smartphone thefts and protect the safety of the consumers,” he added.

”The bill will be introduced within a few months.”

More than half of robberies in San Francisco involve mobile devices, according to Leno’s office.