China Now Requires Facial Scans for Buying a New SIM Card

China is taking its widespread use of facial recognition technology a step further with its new rule, which went into effect from December 1 (i.e. Sunday). The rule requires users buying a new SIM card or data connection tosubmit to mandatory facial recognition scansas part of China’s ongoing cybersecurity and anti-terrorism campaign.

China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technologyfirst issued the guidelinesfor this rule back in September. It outlined that telecom operators are required to deploy“artificial intelligence and other technical methods”to match the identity of an individual before the SIM card is awarded to them. And aswe reported before, the government has justified its efforts by asserting that it’s doing so to“safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of citizens in cyberspace.”

Netizens already had to present their identity card or passport, along with a photograph, while joining a mobile network. However, these users are nowrequired to submit to a mandatory facial scanto secure a new phone number or Internet connection. Telecom operators should use this facial scan to match the identity of the person to their identity documents. This is a massive step in forcing users to give up their online anonymity.

Telecom operators had until December 1 to begin upgrading their centers with the facial recognition technology. And well, reports suggest that a few have already been taking a facial scan for new customers since last year. We will only see the technology expand to more regions in China by the end of 2019.

While telcos have accepted the government’s rule without much pushback, netizens and critics see it as another step towardbuilding a dystopian surveillance state. However, the government defends itself asserting that the new rule will help curb identity theft, phone scams, and reselling of SIM cards. What do you think? Should facial scans by mandatory for buying a SIM card? Share your opinion in the comments below.

Anmol

Getting my start with technology journalism back in 2016, I have been working in the industry for over 7 years. Currently, as the Editor of Beebom, I’m leading the coverage on the website. While my expertise lies in Android, Windows, and the apps world, find me reading manga, watching anime, and playing Apex in my free time.

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