The Papua New Guinea police minister, Nixon Duban, is considering forcing mobile phone owners to register their devices by the end of this year.
The Post Courier newspaper reports his concerns at the increasing frequency with which mobile phones are used to transmit threats or pornography.
Currently many mobile phones are bought over the counter and do not require a proof of identity from the owner.
The paper reports the minister saying misuse of the phone can be very distressing and he likens it to emotional or psychological rape.
The minister He says currently there is no record of users and he is certain that many Papua New Guineans have been victims of this powerful device but perpetrators cannot be punished because they are like ghosts who cannot be traced.
He says the government will look at whether it can direct both mobile phone companies to register their users and to disconnect those not registered.
