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Chinese telecoms must use "AI and other technical means" to identify phone users

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Re: Chinese telecoms must use "AI and other technical means" to identify phone users

#71

Post by take_a_breath »

corporate_shi11 wrote: post #23
oefrha wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can think of another superpower that’s been propping up “democratic” regimes across the world, not hypothetically, but for decades. (Apparently dang won’t like this comment, and rightly so, so this will be my last comment on this thread.)

America has been a champion for real democracies across the world for decades. It has propped up autocracies in the past, but those pale in comparison to its global support for democracy.

America has also disposed of plenty of democratically-elected regimes (Panama, Iran, Chile, Guatemala, Brazil, etc.). I’m not sure who gets to determine if that ”pales in comparison” to its support of other democracies, but it did happen.

Re: Chinese telecoms must use "AI and other technical means" to identify phone users

#72

Post by throw476543 »

At first I got the impression a photo was required when buying a new cellphone, but this appears to be just for new numbers.

China already requires an ID to get a number, so I don’t see how requiring a photo will help them track people even more? Maybe it gives them an updated photo? However, if you don’t get a new number every few years, then it’s useless.

My own country requires a photo ID to get a number and I’ve been to several other countries that do as well. I guess I’m just used to it now. Similar to how we put our photos on resumes, but my American friends were shocked by that.

Re: Chinese telecoms must use "AI and other technical means" to identify phone users

#73

Post by CharlesColeman »

seanmcdirmid wrote: post #45
z2 wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Always roam when in China for short trips. The way cellular networks work is that roaming plans tend to route back home, so that your access is unfiltered. The plan could affect foreigners but it was hard for years already, in that most cellular stores require a Chinese ID to register monthly service (not all take passports). I used to get the salesperson or security guard to lend their ID in my stead, and this is ex…

The China Mobile stands in the airport that sell SIMs take passports...you’ll find them in international baggage claim, and also in the terminal. I’ve only successfully roamed with T-mobile on WiFi. Maybe its better now?

> I’ve only successfully roamed with T-mobile on WiFi. Maybe its better now?

I roamed on T-Mobile pretty successfully using a cell connection last year, but I had to buy a $20 1G data pass and some other passes for it to work. It was worth it for the reliable unfiltered internet access.

My current T-Mobile One plan was worse for this than my old grandfathered (Select Choice?) plan, which could limp along at 2G speeds out of the box and only needed the data pass for usable speed.

Re: Chinese telecoms must use "AI and other technical means" to identify phone users

#74

Post by azinman2 »

eznoonze wrote: post #15
whoevercares wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just saying, historically Han ethnicity is pretty bad at expansion and exert influence overseas otherwise WWIII would happen many years ago. Of course no one knows if that’ll change as China rises in modern age

They will fail, but not without lots of damage to the world and themselves. All thanks to Xi Jinping's expansionist ambition.

Why will they fail? So far they’ve been executing pretty well for the past 20-30 years...

Re: Chinese telecoms must use "AI and other technical means" to identify phone users

#75

Post by aldoushuxley001 »

MrBuddyCasino wrote: post #11

They are already monitoring the chat apps. If you say unseemly things, expect this: https://twitter.com/intypython/status/1200466904734785536?s=... Edit: changed link to original source

Your video is what I expected it to be, but I didn’t think it was going to be that bad. This is the cultural revolution all over again

Re: Chinese telecoms must use "AI and other technical means" to identify phone users

#76

Post by thereare5lights »

proc0 wrote: post #39
CalChris wrote: post #19

Are we any different? I want to think so but drivers licenses and passports are scanned photos. The California DMV even sells this information.

Just look up videos on youtube of westerners who live in China so that you can easily understand the giant chasm of difference between the cultures and system. Even if CA does something similar, there are ways to keep your privacy protected, especially if you're willing to go out of your way and get a lawyer. In China you're basically owned by the government and good luck trying to find workarounds without feeling li…

> especially if you're willing to go out of your way and get a lawyer.

That is out of reach for the vast majority of Americans

Re: Chinese telecoms must use "AI and other technical means" to identify phone users

#77

Post by antpls »

grecy wrote: post #55
classichasclass wrote: post #24

Not that there's any moral equivalence, but when I'm in Australia visiting in-laws, I have to provide my passport or similar ID to get my PAYG SIM activated. I just have them swipe it at the airport and my SIM is on in 10 minutes. My wife admits it's a lot easier in the States to get a PAYG SIM; AT&T doesn't care who she is as long as there's money in the account. I'm not sure why Australia does that, but it's really…

I just drove around Africa, and I bought a pre-paid SIM in about 30 different countries. Every single one of them required a copy of my passport.

In Africa, aren't phone often used to make financial transactions ? It would make sense to have a bit more security in that case, maybe

Re: Chinese telecoms must use "AI and other technical means" to identify phone users

#78

Post by throw476543 »

mytailorisrich wrote: post #69
deogeo wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There absolutely is moral equivalence - they're trying to cut off all means of anonymous communication. It's difficult to get a SIM without providing ID in the EU as well, and you have to provide ID when renting a room. I wish the media were always sensitive to privacy erosion, not just when China does it. I guess using Chinese surveillance tech is a roundabout way of getting them to pay attention, as happened with t…

Having a requirement to link a SIM to an individual is not privacy erosion. It does not mean that usage is monitored, and usage is the important privacy aspect. Furthermore, this just puts mobile phones on par with landlines. It used to be that having a phone meant having a landline at home, and obviously that meant knowing exactly who a number belonged to. There needs to be a balance for everything in the real world…

I feel anonymity is a part of privacy, and anything that limits anonymity also affects privacy.

Re: Chinese telecoms must use "AI and other technical means" to identify phone users

#79

Post by ryannevius »

Erwin wrote: post #68

SIM cards bought in Italy have long required showing photo ID in person and also some kind of SSN like number used for various financial transactions. I needed to acquire that fiscal SSN when buying wine from an Italian web shop but weirdly it's a computed value, not a unique ID you get from some organization: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_fiscal_code

Aside: While there are services that will generate a Codice fiscale that fits the format of what the government will issue, the legal path requires visiting the Agenzia Delle Entrate.

Re: Chinese telecoms must use "AI and other technical means" to identify phone users

#80

Post by thereare5lights »

corporate_shi11 wrote: post #34
braythwayt wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Without agreeing or disagreeing with them, we should accept that people have said exactly the same things about the USA, about the Soviet Union, about Russia, about Britain... And on and on. I am not trying to play “whatabout,” but I do ask: Is there anything different about China’s behaviour as a superpower? Or are we just seeing a shift in which superpowers have world influence? At the moment I write this, the fron…

I think comparisons like this ignore something fundamental, which is the values that both countries champion. The USA is a democracy and has by and large championed democracy around the world. China is ruled by a 1974 style dictatorship, a country ruled by a single Party not the rule of law. Comparisons between the US and the CCP conveniently ignore this, yet it is what really matters. Law enforcement will always exi…

> has by and large championed democracy around the world.

Have we though? As far as I can tell we've only done that to our enemies. Our "allies" such as Saudi Arabia receive no such "championing".

From other people's point of view, democracy might as well be weaponized regime change.

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