An MP on an influential science committee has slammed tech companies for failing to do more to prevent phone theft.
Kit Malthouse, the Conservative MP for North West Hampshire, told City News firms like Apple were “not willing” to block stolen phones, “as for every phone that’s nicked they sell a new one – that is millions of pounds worth of business” he said.
This month police busted a gang in London suspected of shipping 40,000 stolen phones to Hong Kong, thought to be about half of all stolen phones in London.
Mr Malthouse, the former deputy mayor of London for policing, explained that by simply blocking stolen phones, tech companies could ensure they no longer have any value.
MP and Former Deputy Mayor of Policing Kit Malthouse.
“If my phone is stolen, I still own it. So if I tell Apple to stop connecting in China, they should do what I want.” He said this idea of “designing out crime” is not new.
When he was a child it was very common for car radio cars to be stolen. In the end, manufacturers acknowledged the problem and designed car stereos into the car so they were not removable.
Apple has said that “we have made and continue to make significant investments to create industry-leading tools and features that put control in the hands of our users in the event of theft.”
Samsung said that they have invested in theft protection.
We received no comment from Google.
Tom, a young graduate living in London, recently had his phone stolen in the capital.
Two young lads approached and asked if he could support them by giving them a follow on Instagram. Tom said “they came across very friendly and smiley,” so he went on the app to follow them.
The boys then snatched his unlocked phone and ran away. Tom chased after them but as soon as they went down a dark alley he thought it wasn’t worth it. In 15 minutes the boys had got into his email and bank account and changed all the passwords.
“They took a couple of grand out of my bank account” Tom said.
Though Tom took a photo of the boy to the police, which he found from their Instagram account, they said nothing could be done, as they didn’t have an address.
Tom believes that it is more the role of government and the police to stop phone theft, rather than big tech companies. He thinks that the police should take phone theft more seriously and that those committing the crime should receive tougher sentences.
He isn’t angry at the boys: “Fair play they played the system.”
We asked the Home Office for a comment but have not had a reply.
This month the metropolitan police appointed a new lead on phone theft, CDR Andy Featherstone. He said the Met’s strategy on phone theft ‘isn’t good enough. The public deserves better.’
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HeadlineTech Firms Care More About Profit Than Stopping Theft, Says MP
Short HeadlineTech Firms Care More About Profit Than Stopping Theft, Says MP
StandfirstMPs have slammed big Tech companies, like Google, Apple and Samsung from profiting of phone theft.
An MP on an influential science committee has slammed tech companies for failing to do more to prevent phone theft.
Kit Malthouse, the Conservative MP for North West Hampshire, told City News firms like Apple were “not willing” to block stolen phones, “as for every phone that’s nicked they sell a new one – that is millions of pounds worth of business” he said.
This month police busted a gang in London suspected of shipping 40,000 stolen phones to Hong Kong, thought to be about half of all stolen phones in London.
Mr Malthouse, the former deputy mayor of London for policing, explained that by simply blocking stolen phones, tech companies could ensure they no longer have any value.
MP and Former Deputy Mayor of Policing Kit Malthouse.
“If my phone is stolen, I still own it. So if I tell Apple to stop connecting in China, they should do what I want.” He said this idea of “designing out crime” is not new.
When he was a child it was very common for car radio cars to be stolen. In the end, manufacturers acknowledged the problem and designed car stereos into the car so they were not removable.
Apple has said that “we have made and continue to make significant investments to create industry-leading tools and features that put control in the hands of our users in the event of theft.”
Samsung said that they have invested in theft protection.
We received no comment from Google.
Tom, a young graduate living in London, recently had his phone stolen in the capital.
Two young lads approached and asked if he could support them by giving them a follow on Instagram. Tom said “they came across very friendly and smiley,” so he went on the app to follow them.
The boys then snatched his unlocked phone and ran away. Tom chased after them but as soon as they went down a dark alley he thought it wasn’t worth it. In 15 minutes the boys had got into his email and bank account and changed all the passwords.
“They took a couple of grand out of my bank account” Tom said.
Though Tom took a photo of the boy to the police, which he found from their Instagram account, they said nothing could be done, as they didn’t have an address.
Tom believes that it is more the role of government and the police to stop phone theft, rather than big tech companies. He thinks that the police should take phone theft more seriously and that those committing the crime should receive tougher sentences.
He isn’t angry at the boys: “Fair play they played the system.”
We asked the Home Office for a comment but have not had a reply.
This month the metropolitan police appointed a new lead on phone theft, CDR Andy Featherstone. He said the Met’s strategy on phone theft ‘isn’t good enough. The public deserves better.’
