Joint statement from A.G. Schneiderman, D.A. Gascón regarding wireless carriers' rejection of a technological solution

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman and San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón released this statement following news reports indicating wireless carriers have blocked a technological solution proposed by Samsung that had the potential to safeguard millions of consumers from violent crime and theft.

"It is highly disturbing that these corporations rejected a proposal that would have helped keep millions of consumers safe. If they did so to protect their own profit margins, as several recent reports suggest, it is even more egregious.

"Companies that choose to prioritize profits over safety put consumers everywhere at risk. Since smartphone thefts so often result in violence, we call on manufacturers and carriers alike to make the opt-out kill switch an industry-wide standard. The members of the S.O.S. Coalition will continue to use the combined powers of its members to pressure the industry to put the safety of its customers above all other concerns."