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China clamps down on text messages
21 January 2010
The Chinese government is believed to be telling mobile operators that they have to scan text messages to filter out content it dislikes
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China
China Mobile
text messages
filtering
SMS
Comment: This is sad, but not unexpected. Text messaging is a powerful medium, and it’s likely that countries that already monitor and filter other forms of electronic communication will turn their attention to SMS messages.
Chinese mobile operators may implement a filtering system, which scans text messages sent on their networks. Services of users whose messages are considered “illegal or unhealthy” may be suspended.
China Mobile -- and, it is expected, China Unicom and China Telecom -- will be able to automatically spot when “illegal” information is being sent and will suspend the users’ text messaging services if they are caught, according to reports. Service will also be terminated if the operator receives complaints from other users through its reporting system for unhealthy messages.
Text messages will automatically be scanned for “key words” provided by the police. Messages will be considered “unhealthy” if they violate undisclosed criteria ascertained by the central government.
Chinese authorities feel new restrictions are required to get rid of pornography, piracy and other law-breaking activity on the internet and in electronic communications. GTB