March 2020 – State-owned China Mobile Limited (CML) is the largest telecommunications service provider in mainland China. Mr. Li, a former employee of a CML subsidiary, recently revealed that he had been one of about 500 employees whose job was to monitor users of the tech giant’s phones in order to discover and censor harmful information and remarks critical of the government or the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Likewise, Li explained that China is also cracking down on mobile phone customers who use words “sensitive to the state,” including phrases such as “Almighty God.” If such sensitive words were detected through phone surveillance, the user’s service was immediately deactivated. To be reactivated, users had to bring their ID cards to the phone service center and sign a statement never to share such sensitive information again.
“If one says anything deemed unfavorable to the CCP, he or she will be punished,” said Li. “Every person is monitored and controlled under the pretext ‘to crack down on harassment.’”
