Gov. Brown signs 'kill switch' bill to deter smartphone theft Law is meant to deter thefts of smartphones

Sacramento -- - Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill Monday that will make California the first state in the country to require opt-out "kill switches" on smartphones.

Unlike the kill-switch law passed recently in Minnesota, California's law requires that the phones come with the kill-switch feature set to enabled under the default settings. Consumers would have to change the setting to disable the feature if they don't want the protection.

The antitheft technology allows the owner of a smartphone to remotely render it inoperable, which law enforcement officials said would deter thieves who target the devices.

The increasing number of smartphone thefts in California prompted the bill by state Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, who said consumers would have more control over their personal information if their device is lost or stolen.

"California has just put smartphone thieves on notice," Leno said. "Our efforts will effectively wipe out the incentive to steal smartphones and curb this crime of convenience, which is fueling street crime and violence within our communities."

Under the new law, cell phone manufacturers must have the antitheft technology available on smartphones sold in California beginning in July 2015.

The wireless industry trade group CTIA fought the kill-switch bill, at first saying the proposal was technically unfeasible, prohibitively expensive and rife for abuse by hackers. After Leno's bill gained traction, the industry group announced that many smartphone makers and wireless carriers had decided to offer the antitheft technology as an optional tool beginning in July 2015. Leno said the industry's approach still required consumers to search and enable the technology, which would not result in the widespread use needed to deter thieves.

More than 3.1 million Americans had smartphones stolen in 2013, up from 1.6 million in 2012, according to a Consumer Reports survey. The Federal Communications Commission pegged mobile-device theft as the leading property crime in America.

"This epidemic has impacted millions across the nation and millions more around the globe, but today we turn the page," said San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón. "Soon, stealing a smartphone won't be worth the trouble, and these violent street crimes will be a thing of the past."