chinese facial recognition phone

China Implements Mandatory Facial Recognition Scans For New Cell Phone Users

The government claims that the new requirement will prevent fraud for citizens, but critics see it as the furthering of invasive surveillance measures.

All new cell phone users in China must submit a facial scan to the country’s technology agency after new regulations went into effect on Sunday.

The government’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said that the new requirement, which will not affect phone numbers already registered before Dec. 1, is meant to protect Chinese citizens’ “legitimate rights and interests in cyberspace,” according to CNN.

Officials say that the regulations will prevent fraud, but critics see the measure as yet another way that Chinese officials are removing anonymity from the internet and conducting more intense surveillance of users.

"There's no evidence that this type of technology improves public safety, but it's ideal for authoritarian control," Evan Greer, the deputy director of Fight for the Future, a digital rights advocacy group, told ABC News. “It enables governments to engage in invasive and ubiquitous monitoring of an entire population.”

More than 850 million people in China, or about 65 percent of the population, use mobile phones to access the internet, CNN reported. The government has essentially built its own, censored version of messaging, social networking and financial apps that are used by most of the population.

“Real-name registration” policies are already enforced in the country, requiring Chinese citizens to link their online accounts with their government identifications. This new deployment of facial recognition only furthers the level of knowledge that the government has of its citizens’ online activity.

Read more: China Installs Secret App to Travelers’ Phones to Monitor For ‘Objectionable Material’

Facial recognition is also widely used across China, particularly in public spaces like airports, streets, office buildings and more. The Chinese government did not say which technology providers would provide the service to cell phone companies, though the country is home to several providers of facial recognition, including SenseTime and Megvii.

"China's implementation of this technology should be a wake-up call to people everywhere who care about basic human liberty," Greer said.

About the Author

Haley Samsel is an Associate Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.

Featured

  • From Surveillance to Intelligence

    Years ago, it would have been significantly more expensive to run an analytic like that — requiring a custom-built solution with burdensome infrastructure demands — but modern edge devices have made it accessible to everyone. It also saves time, which is a critical factor if a missing child is involved. Video compression technology has played a critical role as well. Over the years, significant advancements have been made in video coding standards — including H.263, MPEG formats, and H.264—alongside compression optimization technologies developed by IP video manufacturers to improve efficiency without sacrificing quality. The open-source AV1 codec developed by the Alliance for Open Media—a consortium including Google, Netflix, Microsoft, Amazon and others — is already the preferred decoder for cloud-based applications, and is quickly becoming the standard for video compression of all types. Read Now

  • Cost: Reactive vs. Proactive Security

    Security breaches often happen despite the availability of tools to prevent them. To combat this problem, the industry is shifting from reactive correction to proactive protection. This article will examine why so many security leaders have realized they must “lead before the breach” – not after. Read Now

  • Achieving Clear Audio

    In today’s ever-changing world of security and risk management, effective communication via an intercom and door entry communication system is a critical communication tool to keep a facility’s staff, visitors and vendors safe. Read Now

  • Beyond Apps: Access Control for Today’s Residents

    The modern resident lives in an app-saturated world. From banking to grocery delivery, fitness tracking to ridesharing, nearly every service demands another download. But when it comes to accessing the place you live, most people do not want to clutter their phone with yet another app, especially if its only purpose is to open a door. Read Now

  • Survey: 48 Percent of Worshippers Feel Less Safe Attending In-Person Services

    Almost half (48%) of those who attend religious services say they feel less safe attending in-person due to rising acts of violence at places of worship. In fact, 39% report these safety concerns have led them to change how often they attend in-person services, according to new research from Verkada conducted online by The Harris Poll among 1,123 U.S. adults who attend a religious service or event at least once a month. Read Now

New Products

  • Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden Door Controls is pleased to announce that, in response to soaring customer demand, it has expanded its range of ValueWave™ no-touch switches to include a narrow (slimline) version with manual override. This override button is designed to provide additional assurance that the request to exit switch will open a door, even if the no-touch sensor fails to operate. This new slimline switch also features a heavy gauge stainless steel faceplate, a red/green illuminated light ring, and is IP65 rated, making it ideal for indoor or outdoor use as part of an automatic door or access control system. ValueWave™ no-touch switches are designed for easy installation and trouble-free service in high traffic applications. In addition to this narrow version, the CM-221 & CM-222 Series switches are available in a range of other models with single and double gang heavy-gauge stainless steel faceplates and include illuminated light rings.

  • FEP GameChanger

    FEP GameChanger

    Paige Datacom Solutions Introduces Important and Innovative Cabling Products GameChanger Cable, a proven and patented solution that significantly exceeds the reach of traditional category cable will now have a FEP/FEP construction.

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities