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This past weekend was the deadline for cell phone owners in Mexico to register their identities with a government database. Anchor Marco Werman has details.

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MARCO WERMAN:  A quick note on a story we saw today.  It’s from Mexico.  This past weekend was the deadline for cell phone owners in Mexico to register their identities with the government data base.  Each user was supposed to text their name and date of birth to authorities.  The database was created to help prevent criminals from using cell phones, especially those criminals involved in kidnapping and drug trafficking.  If a user doesn’t register, the cell phone is disconnected.  Several privacy groups have expressed concerns, still the government hasn’t budged.  Now that the deadline has passed, the good news is 70% of Mexico’s cell phones registered.  The bad news is the other 30% did not and cell phone companies are required by law to cut them off.  Today mobile phone companies in Mexico said they’re still working to get tall their users signed up, but the government’s clock is ticking.  And so is ours as we close in on the break.  So don’t forget to check us out online.  We’re at the world dot org.  Today you can download our latest weekly language pod cast.  Lots of good stuff this week including accent phobia in the work place and a great selection of misleading job titles.

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