California introduces a Kill-Switch bill for mobile devices

A bill, introduced Friday by State Sen. Mark Leno (D-San Francisco), would require any mobile device sold in the state of California to come with a digital kill-switch that would render the device useless if it’s ever nabbed by a thief.

Why is this significant? Because the state is so large that it may sway the manufactures, who will face a fine if they sell devices without the kill switch, if the bill passes, to force the general adaption of all cell phones throughout the nation. So if California moves forward with a smartphone kill-switch mandate, devices complying with that requirement would likely be sold in the other 49 states, whether they pass similar laws or not.


Apple’s Activation Lock feature in iOS 7 is an example of the kind of kill-switch feature California could mandate.

Should it pass, California’s proposed law figures to be a game-changer for smartphone and tablet owners—even those in other states.