Closed petition: Introduce Licensing for Mobile Phones to Prevent Scams and Protect Consumers

Closed on 27 August 2025

Introduce a licensing system for all mobile phones in the UK, including contract and pay-as-you-go devices. Require phones to be verified and linked to an account holder, ensuring they are genuine, secure, and preventing counterfeit phones from being used to steal users’ personal data.

Counterfeit mobile phones are being sold as genuine on social media, online marketplaces, and second-hand websites. Once connected to the home internet, these devices can steal personal data and passwords without the buyer’s knowledge, similar to a Trojan Horse virus that copies the user's keyboard input unbeknown to the buyer. We think a licensing system would verify devices and link them to account holders, protecting consumers, reducing cybercrime, and enhancing mobile security in today's tech world.