Ausgov issues the ID documents and refuses to change them.
Ausgov requires Telcos to sight and store the data for at least 7 years
Ausgov requires that data be readily available to any of dozens of agencies, on demand.
Optus loses control of that data.
Ausgov wants more power to regulate.
If a Telco were permitted to sell services over the counter, no ID requirements, just a straight transaction. $100 cash for 12 months of mobile service. "Here's the SIM and the number, have a nice day"; they would. There'd be customers lined up around the block.
Imagine if the government told insurance companies that in order to operate, they needed to keep sufficient physical gold on hand to cover total liabilities. Also, that any public servant should be able to enter an office in the CBD and inspect that pile of gold, without any notice or wait time.
Ausgov doesn't care that 9 million people have been compromised. It only cares that capitalism gets blamed.
That's how it was when I arrived in Korea back in the late 90's. You could buy a phone almost anywhere, or someone leaving country sell you their used phone. Then all you had to do was buy a minutes card from any store.
Doesn't matter now. You might be on the run from domestic abuse. Can't have a service without providing a Telco with your full name, email, home address etc.
These are interesting points - aren't they? The excuses will be "drug dealers will take advantage"
Same as "crypto is only used by criminals".
And banks had to do the same in order to lend.
It's such an obvious pattern, when you start watching out for it.
The government requires businesses act dangerously; then waits for an opportunity to call them reckless.