@adisonverlice even if an #MVNO isn't demanding any #KYC whatsoever (i.e. #prepaid are offered OTC in most juristictions) it's NOT "#Anonymous" but merely #pseudonymous as it's trivial for governments to utilize existing and mandtory "#LawfulInterception" appliances to create that #PII chain.
#PhoneNumber <=> #ICCID (#SIMcard) <=> #IMSI (SIM profile) <=> #IMEI (Phone/...).
So if #Anonymity is important, NONE of these details have to be linked somehow even circumstantial.
Bought/paid for the phone/SIM/ a single top-up with ec/CC/PayPal/SEPA/… = busted due to circumstantial connection.
Use the SIM in any device? Consider them circumstantially connected forever: #ICCID <=> #IMEI.
Add to the fact that most places have #CCTV, and assume that they'll keep recordings for the maximum permissible duration if not longer and oftentimes even use questionable cloud services and you get the picture.
- I.e. in Germany the maximum permissible storage duration is 72 hours (if nothing hapoens that warrants a longer storage i.e. burglary/theft/robbery/arson/...) so anonymous top-ups would necessitate paying cash at a place one's not been known at (i.e. some kiosk) and waiting at least >72 hours (and checking on the purchase location) before redeeming the top-up code (i.e. dialing
*104*1234567890123456#)...
So any #privacy-based service should never ever & under no circumstances demand a Phone Number!
Instead any privacy-focussed service should use #OnionServices, host their own #OnionService or at least #DontBlockTor and allow users to use it via @torproject / #Tor to use and signup. (But don't forget circumstantial connections there either!)
Also the less details they want or store and the least traffic they generate the harder it is to correlate traffic & users.
