Communications and Technology Subcommittee, Energy and Commerce Committee
Introduced
In Committee
On Floor
Passed Chamber
Enacted
Detective Brian Simonsen Memorial Act of 2022 or the Cell Phone Theft Prevention Act of 2022 This bill sets out requirements to prevent the sale of stolen smartphones. Specifically, a commercial provider of mobile or data services may not knowingly provide its services on a smartphone that has been reported stolen by an authorized user. When a user makes such a report, the bill further requires that the provider transmit the report to a central registry of stolen smartphones. Providers may not provide their services on a smartphone that is included in the registry. Additionally, the bill makes it a crime to knowingly sell a smartphone if its mobile device identification number (i.e., a number or signal that identifies a specific device) is listed as stolen on the registry; or remove, obliterate, tamper with, or alter the mobile device identification number, including by facilitating such conduct through hardware or software. Violators are subject to a fine, a prison term of up to five years, or both. The bill also requires any smartphone manufactured for the U.S. market to have (1) a mobile device identification number, or (2) anti-theft functionality that is available to the consumer at no cost.
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Timeline
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.
Science, Technology, Communications
Cell Phone Theft Prevention Act of 2022
USA117th CongressHR-7362| House
| Updated: 4/4/2022
Detective Brian Simonsen Memorial Act of 2022 or the Cell Phone Theft Prevention Act of 2022 This bill sets out requirements to prevent the sale of stolen smartphones. Specifically, a commercial provider of mobile or data services may not knowingly provide its services on a smartphone that has been reported stolen by an authorized user. When a user makes such a report, the bill further requires that the provider transmit the report to a central registry of stolen smartphones. Providers may not provide their services on a smartphone that is included in the registry. Additionally, the bill makes it a crime to knowingly sell a smartphone if its mobile device identification number (i.e., a number or signal that identifies a specific device) is listed as stolen on the registry; or remove, obliterate, tamper with, or alter the mobile device identification number, including by facilitating such conduct through hardware or software. Violators are subject to a fine, a prison term of up to five years, or both. The bill also requires any smartphone manufactured for the U.S. market to have (1) a mobile device identification number, or (2) anti-theft functionality that is available to the consumer at no cost.