By the end of July, 13.5 million anonymous phone numbers will not be anonymous anymore. With some fast procedures, the government will change the system for pre-paid cell phones, in order to limit criminality and to protect users from blackmail, threats, and malevolent “numbers.”

The government reached this decision after it witnessed many unsuccessful attempts by the police to find the tracks of terrorist organizations, the abductors of Pericles Panagopoulos, and other criminals using pre-paid cell phone cards. Meanwhile, there are many complaints from civil citizens, who have been blackmailed by unknown individuals.

By the order of the Prime Minister, the Minister of Transportation and Communication Evripidis Stilianidis left for Brussels, in order to talk to experts from the European Commission and other colleagues from other countries, who informed him about how they are dealing with this phenomenon.

The bill is ready, put forward and it will be discussed on the first summer session of the parliament, right after the Euro-elections. This bill will change the habits of millions of users, who buy SIM cards from kiosks without giving out nay personal information. From now on, there will be new rules – there will be only one pre-paid card and it will be given with a phone after presenting an ID. The customers will be able to buy vouchers for ?5, ?10, and ?20 from certified sales centers after giving out their personal information.

Each pre-paid card will have its own code number, which will correspond to each individual. All personal information will be kept in the phone company’s system and after a court order, the police will be able to have full access to them. When this happens, the police believe that many crimes can be solved.

Because of the new bill, there will be many claims for personal data violations but the government believes that the new law will be consistent with the laws in other European countries and it will protect all citizens. Right now, there are 3,5 million pre-paid cell phones, out of which 7 million are constantly active. After the law is accepted, there will be a transition period, after which all cell phones, which are not declared, will be disconnected.