PETITIONOpenPetition · petition.parliament.uk
Ban anonymous SIM cards and require ID verification for all SIM sales in the UK
Introduce legislation requiring mobile network providers and retailers to verify valid identification before selling or activating any SIM card, including prepaid SIM cards.
Last fetched 05 May 2026 · petition.parliament.uk
Signatures
35
signatures
Government response threshold (10,000) · 35/10,000
Debate threshold (100,000) · 35/100,000
Background
SIM cards can currently be purchased from some shops without providing identification. This may allow anonymous phone numbers to be used for scam calls, fraud, harassment, and other criminal activities.
Requiring ID verification when purchasing or activating a SIM card could help improve accountability, support law enforcement investigations, and help reduce misuse of mobile networks.