California Senate approves smartphone ‘kill-switch’ bill

A California bill that mandates smartphones sold in the state come preloaded with antitheft software cleared its first legislative hurdle.

SB962, introduced by state Sen Mark Leno (D-CA) and sponsored by San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon, asks that device makers including Apple and Samsung put so-called "kill-switch" technology on every smartphone and have the switch automatically turned on when people buy a phone.

A kill switch lets users lock the phone if it is stolen, making it inoperable.

The bill, which was initially shot down by senators on April 24 -- now has to make it through the California Assembly. Eventually it will need to be approved by California Gov Jerry Brown, as well. The bill applies only to smartphones, and not to other devices like tablets, manufactured after July 1, 2015.