# ICASA Biometric to SIM

- Link: https://dearsouthafrica.co.za/icasa-biometric/
- Published: 2022-03-24T12:20:20+02:00
- Author: dearSA

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### **28,799** comments were individually delivered to the government.

### The Independent Communications Authority of SA called for public comment on the Draft Amendment Numbering Plan Regulations — tying biometric data of South Africans to their SIM cards.

    - The regulations define biometric data as the “measurement and statistical 
      analysis of people’s unique physical and behavioural characteristics”
    - fingerprint mapping, facial recognition, retina scans and biometric data could
      all be tied to a person’s SIM card – and by extension their phone number.

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### SUMMARY

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) has proposed tying
the biometric data of South Africans to their SIM cards in a move to clamp down 
on fraudulent activity.

The proposals are included alongside other draft regulations which were published
for public comment by the regulator on Wednesday (23 March).

The regulations define biometric data as the “measurement and statistical analysis
of people’s unique physical and behavioural characteristics”.

In practice, this means that fingerprint mapping, facial recognition, retina scans
and biometric data could all be tied to a person’s SIM card – and by extension their
phone number – going forward.

“On activation of a mobile number on its network, a licensee must ensure that it
collects and links the biometric data of the subscriber to the number. A licensee
must ensure that, at all times, it has the current biometric data of an assigned
mobile number,” the regulator said.

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