SMSs under "tight scrutiny" in October
Beijing (AsiaNews/SCMP) In a notice on its official website, China's Ministry of Information Industry announced its intention to order a one-month crackdown in October on mobile phone text messages.
The campaign is aimed at curbing a flood of short message service (SMS) texts and voice messages, ostensibly those containing pornographic and astrological content, as well as those SMS texts containing "provocative language" and "spreading subjects forbidden by the government".
The notice did not explain how the government will determine what constitutes provocative language and forbidden subjects but it does raise concerns as to its impact on freedom of expression.
For mainland human rights activist Zhao Xin, the announcement was just another effort by the government to rein in freedom of speech, religion and thought that are guaranteed under China's constitution.
Text messaging has been widely used in organising protests and spreading information banned on traditional channels in recent years.
Some reports estimated mobile phone users sent 550 billion text messages last year, with the number tipped to rise to a trillion next year.
Carl Hong Jianfei, an analyst at Norson Telecom Consulting, said the move was a continuation of a crackdown on SMSs that started last year.
"I've learned that the [local] Chongqing government can censor messages one by one," he said. "It's not difficult [. . .] by using filters". What is more, Mr Hong does not believe that "that the regulation will disappear after October 30".
In many Asian countries governments have been trying for some time to scrutinise cellphone SMS on the grounds that they are not only used to organise demonstrations and spread news, but also to commit crimes and organise terrorist attacks.
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08/02/2022 15:15
