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China cracks down on SMS

Posted: 02/07/04 By: Jemima Kiss

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The Chinese government is extending its sophisticated surveillance network to monitor the content of mobile text messages (SMS), reports press freedom group Reporters sans Frontières (RSF).

A system produced by Chinese technology firm Venus info Tech will allow the authorities to filter messages and spot keywords or phrases which, they say, will detect 'false political rumours' and 'reactionary remarks'.

"The Chinese authorities are making ever greater use of new technology to control the circulation of news and information," said RSF.

"The international community should react against this hardening by the Chinese regime."

China is already believed to have more than 2,800 surveillance centres for SMS traffic and also employs 30,000 people to monitor and censor web content.

Nearly 100 million text messages are sent in China each year, and mobile phone ownership has reached 60 per cent.

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See also:
RSF: http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=10870
Venus info Tech: http://www.venustech.com.cn/about/gsjj/20040327/2139.htm
InternetPolicy.net: http://www.internetpolicy.net

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