Censored Mobile Devices in North Korea: Propaganda Includes Autocorrect Function - Censored Mobile Devices in North Korea: Every Function, Including Spelling Corrections, Serves Propaganda Purposes
** rebelled against the draconian digital chains**
- penned by Malte Mansholt
- ** approximation - 2 minutes read**
Imagine North Korea, flashing images of Kim Jong-un, a struggling populace, and massive military parades - but no smartphones, right? Well, you'd be wrong. In the otherwise isolated country, smartphones have become as commonplace as in the rest of the world, but they function in a world of their own, as showcased by a recent BBC report.
The BBC managed to get their hands on a North Korean smartphone that smuggled its way out of the country last year. At first glance, it looks like a regular Android device, reminiscent of Huawei or Honor models. But it's the operating system that sets it apart, revealing the intrusive level of control that the regime has over the citizens' lives.
Patriotic Wallpaper, Not Google Logo
The home screen is adorned with the North Korean flag instead of the Google logo. The device can connect to mobile networks, but internet access is limited to a select group of websites that are hosted solely within North Korea.
But that's not all - the state keeps a keen eye on the device's activity. An automatically locked folder on the home screen is filled with screenshots that the phone grabs every 5 minutes. Users can neither open nor delete these files; only the authorities can. "They can," the reporter notes.
The auto-correct feature is also reminiscent of the regime's tight control. The South Korean term "Oppa," which gained popularity through Psy's "Gangnam Style" and is used in Korean slang to refer to a boyfriend or crush, is automatically replaced with "Comrade." Typing in "South Korea" results in "puppet state."
Protection from Freedom's Allure
There have been reports of smartphone surveillance since 2022, according to human rights organization Lumen. Apart from the screenshots and internet restrictions mentioned earlier, Lumen reports that the devices also come with content filters that only allow approved photos, videos, and content by the regime. Trying to open unapproved files is tracked as well, serving as evidence during inspections.
These restrictions could be a response by the regime to efforts by South Korea and the West to reveal the benefits of freer societies to the North Korean populace. Western media is often smuggled into the country - sometimes on USB sticks attached to balloons, with popular TV shows like "Friends" reportedly enjoying high demand, despite the punishment that watching them could incur.
Resistance within Numbing Control
Some North Koreans might view these restrictions as a challenge. According to Lumen, there are individuals who use root access to hack their smartphones and circumvent the restrictions. While it remains a relatively small group, human rights activists from Lumen believe that the necessary technical knowledge is not widespread. Still, the movement appears large enough to have concerns from the regime, who passed a law in 2020 explicitly prohibiting manipulating smartphone software to disable security functions.
"The existence of this specific law indicates that it's happening to an extent that it's catching the attention of authorities," notes Lumen. "And they may be concerned about it as well.”
Sources: BBC, Lumen Report
- North Korea
- Smartphone hacking
- Censorship
Enrichment Comparison:
North Korea's smartphones display a level of control unmatched by most countries. Here's a comparison of the methods used by North Korea and other countries in controlling content and surveillance:
- Content Control in North Korea:
- Auto-correct Manipulation - North Korean devices alter words and phrases to align with the government's ideology.
- Internet Access Limitations - Citizens are restricted to a domestic intranet, called "Kwangmyong," which features only approved content.
- Extensive Monitoring - Authorities monitor communications devices, including phone calls, texts, and internet activity, to detect dissent.
- Content Control in Other Countries:
- Censorship - Countries such as China and Iran implement some level of censorship, but it's generally less invasive than North Korea's.
- Transparent Regulations - Most countries have laws set to protect citizens' privacy and govern content, but these are subject to judicial oversight and less intrusive surveillance.
- Voluntary Compliance - Some countries encourage compliance with content guidelines, often concerning children's content.
- Surveillance in North Korea:
- Comprehensive Monitoring - North Korea monitors phone calls, texts, internet activity, and even takes automatic screenshots every few minutes.
- Surveillance in Other Countries:
- Data Privacy Laws - Countries have laws protecting their citizens' data privacy, limiting government surveillance without legal justification.
- Targeted Surveillance - Surveillance is generally more targeted, rather than blanket monitoring of all citizens, focusing on individuals involved in criminal activities.
- Transparency - Surveillance activities are typically subject to some level of transparency and legal oversight.
- In a surprising twist, even in North Korea - renowned for its strict controls and isolation - smartphones have become commonplace, albeit under the regime's watchful eye.
- While a North Korean smartphone might look like any other Android device, its operating system, patrolled by authorities, demonstrates the extensive control the regime holds over citizens' digital lives.
- As technology increasingly permeates North Korean streets, a small yet defiant group of individuals use root access to hack their smartphones, seeking to evade the regime's censorship and surveillance, challenging the rigid digital boundaries imposed by the regime.
