China Now Requires All New Cell Phone And Internet Users To Submit To A Facial Recognition Scan

Getting a SIM card at any of China’s three state-owned carriers -- China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom -- now requires a face scan. (Picture: Shutterstock)

Business Insider: Chinese government forces people to scan their face before they can use internet as surveillance efforts mount

* China's 854 million internet users are now required to use facial identification in order to apply for new internet or mobile services.
* The Chinese government announced in September that telecommunications companies will need to scan users' faces in order to verify their identities before they can access new services.
* The new rule went into effect on December 1 and is part of China's wider efforts to keep close tabs on its citizens and monitor their activities and behaviors.

Chinese citizens will now have to start using facial identification in order to sign up for internet services or get a new mobile number.

The Chinese government announced in September that residents applying for a new mobile or internet device will have their faces scanned by telecommunications carriers. The new rules went into effect on December 1.

China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), which is the state agency responsible for internet and technology regulation, wrote that the decision was part of its moves to "safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of citizens in the cyberspace" and prevent fraud, according to Quartz.

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WNU Editor: I shudder when I think about where all of this is all going to end up as (i.e. a surveillance state where all of your activities are monitored).

More News On China Now Requiring All New Cell Phone And Internet Users To Submit To A Facial Recognition Scan

China launches mandatory face scans for mobile users -- Quartz
Getting a SIM card in China now requires a facial recognition scan -- SCMP
China makes face scans compulsory for all phone users under crackdown to ensure the devices are linked to their real identities -- Daily Mail
China introduces mandatory face scans for new mobile users, raising surveillance fears -- France 24
China brings in mandatory facial recognition for mobile phone users -- The Guardian
New phone users must now have their faces scanned and photos stored by state in China -- The Independent
China requires face scans to buy new phones -- Asia Times
China launches compulsory face scans for new phone users -- DW
China is rolling out facial recognition for all new mobile phone numbers -- CNN

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