The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has proposed a rule that would require telecommunication companies to collect government-issued identity numbers and physical addresses from new and renewing customers for all prepaid SIM cards. The proposal aims to eliminate burner phones, which are prepaid mobile devices purchased without identity verification. According to theaicronicle.com, the proposal is part of a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that enforces strict 'Know Your Customer' (KYC) procedures for every SIM card activation and states its goal is to combat SIM swapping and criminal communication networks. Theaicronicle.com also reported that the FCC's proposal aligns the U.S. with international surveillance standards and reflects a broader trend in which communication anonymity is increasingly treated as a security risk. Privacy groups, according to theaicronicle.com, warn that the proposal risks activists and vulnerable populations. Bluesky reported that the FCC intends to mandate that telecommunication companies retain extensive personal data on nearly all phone users. The FCC's proposal is unexpected or alarming to some.