FutureWire - futurism and emerging technology

Thursday, December 29, 2005

China Seeks to Register Mobile Phone Users

In the coming year, the Chinese government is seeking to register the identities of all of its 200 million prepaid mobile phone users. The move is obstensibly meant to crack down on harassing or otherwise unsolicited text messaging, but is stirring controversy from those who express concerns about privacy. Users who receive bills for their phone service are already registered with the government.

China has a total of 388 million cell phone users... a number that's expected to nearly double by the end of the decade.

Sources: Times of Oman, Smart Mobs