SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea is putting surveillance cameras in schools and workplaces and collecting fingerprints, photographs and other biometric information from its citizens in a technology-driven push to monitor its population even more closely, a report said Tuesday.
The state’s growing use of digital surveillance tools, which combine equipment imported from China with domestically developed software, threatens to erase many of the small spaces North Koreans have left to engage in private business activities, access foreign media and secretly criticize their government, the researchers wrote.
But the isolated country’s digital ambitions have to contend with poor electricity supplies and low network connectivity. Those challenges, and a history of reliance on human methods of spying on its citizens, mean that digital surveillance isn’t yet as pervasive as in China, according to the report, published by the North Korea-focused website 38 North.
Children are evacuated from school 'during an exam' after threat made via email
Conan O'Brien reveals the WORST 'amateur move' a talk
The Talk CANCELLED! Daytime series to end with season 15
Harrison Ford rocks out with wife Calista Flockhart at Jimmy Buffet tribute concert in LA
Company wins court ruling to continue development of Michigan factory serving EV industry
On a wing and a prayer! Watch the nail
Indiana mother Raeleigh Phillips charged with murdering nine
US carries out first airdrop of aid into Gaza
Pope trip to Luxembourg, Belgium confirmed for September, 2 weeks after challenging Asia visit
Candice Swanepoel stuns in a form
Harry Styles and Niall Horan soak up the action at The Masters with the Love on Tour star watching 6