Firms Refuse to Cut Service to Stolen Kindles, iPhones

Digital gadget manufacturers may know who stole your cell phone, satellite radio or ebook reader, because they're often registered and used by the thief. But good luck getting tech companies to share that information, or even to shut off service to the device, reports the New York Times. Angry consumers believe companies would rather continue making money with the new criminal-owners than turn them in.

Amazon can easily block a stolen Kindle from downloading books, for example, but will only do so if contacted by a police officer with a subpoena. “I concluded that Amazon knew the device was being used and preferred to sell content to anyone who possessed the device, rather than assist in returning it to its rightful owner," said one victim who lost his Kindle to a thief. Amazon is hardly alone. Sirius XM Radio and iPhone distributor AT&T have similar policies.
(More Sirius XM stories.)