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Pretty sure you can use one to sign up for a phone number in Aus
by SchemaLoad 1y ago
Pretty sure you can use one to sign up for a phone number in Aus
- soulofmischief 1y agoWait hold on, you have to apply for phone numbers in Australia? You can't just grab a burner from Walmart?
- SchemaLoad 1y agoYes, every phone number gets linked to an ID. You can grab a sim from the supermarket but when you plug it in you've got to activate it which requires ID.
- soulofmischief 1y agoI'm so sorry. Australia is such a draconian nanny state, hell-bent on surveillance and authoritarian control. It always reminds me a lot of here in the US: Incredible land, a vast ecology, great history and subcultures, and some truly amazing people unfortunately drowned out by a staggeringly large population of loud morons who seem hellbent on voting in the worst possible people to run the whole thing, people who often couldn't care less about the things that make their country truly great, while leaning heavily on populism and deception as a means to retain power. I wouldn't be surprised if the US eventually requires ID for phone numbers, either, the way things have been going.
- josephg 1y agoAussie here. It seems fine though? Like, "buy a burner phone and go offgrid, where nobody knows your name" isn't something I've ever wanted. That's a cowboy dream. Its not really an australian dream. Its certainly not something I've ever wanted. I want to live my life with a competent government and competent police force that - for the most part - I can trust to do the right thing. So long as its not abused, I'm ok with a court order being able to coerce my email provider into giving the police access to my emails. As I understand it, almost all of these requests happen because of crimes. I want the police to solve crimes. Judges here aren't elected. They're mostly retired lawyers trying to do the right thing. I want to trust them. And - I think - for the most part we can. I lived in Melbourne during the pandemic. Our whole state got shut down hard for months. I can't tell you how weird it was seeing news of protests in NY on our behalf. Like, thats so sweet of you. And so stupid. And so unwelcome. Locals overwhelmingly supported what our state premier, Dan Andrews was trying (and failing) to do. In the next state election, most of the other parties barely bothered campaigning because Dan was so popular. I get that lots of americans think of australia sort of like a weird extra state. But we're not. We have our own country, our own values, our own culture and our own, super boring constitution. You can see who we are plain as day in this blog post - where eventually Tony Abbott (think Bill Clinton or Obama) calls up the blog post writer on the phone and asks him for tech advice, and admits he doesn't understand anything about computers. Thats the australian way. Americans having hot opinions about australian politics is like russians having hot opinions about american politics. Even when I agree with you on the details (and I sort of do), its a bit weird and creepy.
- codedokode 1y agoCriminals will find a way to work around this. In Russia the SIM card must be linked to the passport, but criminals still manage to make calls and not get caught. I also often buy accounts on black market in order to not provide my data.
- josephg 1y agoSmart, well prepared criminals will find a way around this. But most criminals aren't both smart and well prepared.
- soulofmischief 1y agoIt's not weird or creepy to follow the politics of another country, especially when it has deep political implications in your own country. For example, my country routes internet traffic to Australia solely to take advantage of its pro-surveillance laws while undermining my rights as a US citizen to resist unauthorized search and seizure. Australia is a global player in the intelligence community and that should not be ignored. Furthermore, the great barrier reef is of global importance, but Australia's government often works against the UN's preservation efforts and doesn't take preservation or climate change seriously. That is something that should alarm someone from any country. So let's dispense with the pejoratives, and dispense with the bias over protests I had no part in and shouldn't be associated with just because I'm American. This is a big country, with lots of opinions.
- josephg 1y ago> For example, my country routes internet traffic to Australia solely to take advantage of its pro-surveillance laws while undermining my rights as a US citizen Then sort out the laws in your country. As an Australian citizen, I can't "fix" US politics. I can't and I wouldn't want to try - because its not any of my business. If the US government really wants to infringe on your american civil liberties, there's nothing I - or any other Australian - can do to stop them. (Well other than meddling in your elections or invading - and I don't think anybody wants that). Its up to you and your countrymen. Nobody else can vote. As for the environment and the great barrier reef - politically I totally agree with you. Its an unfolding, unforced tragedy. But you've also gotta understand, if your president says he wants to largely ignore the rest of the world and do whats best today for americans, it weakens your moral standing when you lecture others about doing the same. You can't have it both ways.
- mdhb 1y agoI’ve genuinely never once met an Australian who wouldn’t laugh in your face if you were to read that statement to them and ask if they would prefer to live in the US.
- soulofmischief 1y agoI know several and we seem to agree that both countries are run by authoritarian jackasses, it isn't a pissing contest. I didn't say anything about the US being a better place to live, that's an argument you've brought yourself.
- throwaway422432 1y agoFun fact. I once bought a very cheap Optus phone just to use for work 2FA (might have been PingID). Never registered it but it could still authenticate via the Optus cell network using a lower level transport protocol. Meant I could use 2FA with no wifi connection and the phone in airplane mode to conserve battery.
- josephg 1y agoI don't want to bake your noodle, but we also don't have any Walmarts here. Not even one.