MPs urge tech companies to take stronger action against mobile phone theft

A committee of MPs has criticized tech giants like Apple, Samsung, and Google for not doing enough to combat mobile phone theft. They argue that these companies could implement technical measures that would make stolen devices less valuable, such as blocking stolen phones from accessing cloud services globally. The issue is particularly serious in London, where phone thefts are on the rise, with 80,000 reported in 2024, up from 64,000 in 2023. Despite some efforts like Apple’s ‘Find My iPhone’ tool and Google’s theft protection features, MPs claim that these companies are not addressing the root problem of mobile phone theft. Apple and Samsung have been contacted for further comments, while Google stated it has made advancements in anti-theft technologies. The MPs believe that there is a lack of convincing reasons from these companies as to why they are not adopting more robust solutions. The UK government is also pushing for more action from these tech companies, calling mobile phone theft a serious crime that affects public safety and leads to significant financial losses. The matter remains unresolved, with a follow-up summit planned in 2025.