The Europol SIMCARTEL operation shows that fighting crime is essential, but it also raises a warning: in the EU, SIM cards and communications are already under strict surveillance and control. While dismantling criminal networks is a good cause, we must not let it justify the erosion of fundamental privacy and personal freedoms for everyone. We should invest in smarter, less intrusive ways to combat crime rather than resort to blanket surveillance so that both security and the right to live untracked can be preserved.