[medof]

> Many places I've been won't let you buy a SIM without showing id.

You don't need to show any ID in Europe to buy non-contract phone number. You can go into most stores and get free or pay 1-5 euro for a phone number.

[kpcyrd]

Germany passed an anti-terror law a few years ago, getting a phone number requires the same level of verification as opening a bank account.

Even before that prepaid phones have been a strawman argument, actually maintaining a 2nd number in the long run is quite a bit of work since it usually expires if you don't use it enough.

[detaro]

And then you typically need to do some kind of identity verification to activate it.

[smartbit]

In Austria, Belgium & Germany you do, in Croatia & The Netherlands you don’t

[richardwhiuk]

Possible that's typical, but it's certainly not universal

[C1sc0cat]

Not in the UK you cant.