California Senate Passes Smartphone Kill Switch Bill
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California’s Senate passed a bill requiring smartphone makers such as Apple Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co. to include technology that would let customers remotely wipe data from their devices and render them inoperable when stolen.
The Senate, controlled by Democrats, approved the measure 26 to 8. It would require all new smartphones sold in the state beginning in July 2015 to have theft-deterrent technology, also known as a kill switch, installed and activated. The state Assembly, also controlled by Democrats, will consider the legislation next.