Censoring Reality: North Korea's Propaganda-Fueled Smartphones
- Malte Mansholt
- 2 Mins
Censored Mobile Devices in North Korea: Propaganda Even in Auto-correction Functionality - Censored Mobile Phones in North Korea: Every feature, even subtle changes, serve as state-controlled messaging
Picture North Korea, and images of Kim Jong-un, a struggling populace, and military parades might spring to mind. A refresh in the tech sphere, though? Not so much. Yet surprisingly, smartphones have established themselves as an everyday accessory in this isolated nation, but they serve a purpose quite different from what we've come to expect. A recent BBC report delves into the intricacies of these seemingly ordinary devices.
The British broadcaster managed to get hold of a sneaked-out North Korean smartphone from last year. At first blush, it resembles a traditional Android device, vaguely echoing models by the likes of Huawei or Honor. However, a closer look reveals the extent to which the regime poisons daily life.
Fleur-de-Lis instead of G-mail
The striking differences begin from the home screen, boasting the North Korean flag instead of a Google logo. The device is capable of logging into mobile networks but restricts access to a limited selection of websites, primarily run within the isolated nation.
Aunt Sally: the government does not want to miss a beat on the device's activities. A hidden folder on the home screen is brimming with screenshots the device snaps automatically every five minutes. Unlike most smartphones, users cannot open, delete or peek into these files; only big brother is allowed to.
One-Way Auto-Correct
The peculiar auto-correct feature wins a special mention: typing the South Korean term "Oppa," a term of endearment for boyfriend, auto-corrects to "Comrade," and warns against usage. South Korea fails to enter at all; "puppet state" materializes instead.
Not new news: human rights organization Lumen reported smartphone surveillance back in 2022. Beyond the screen grabs and internet limitations mentioned above, Lumen unearthed that the smartphones also contain content filters directly on the device, enabling it to approve only regime-approved content, such as pictures and videos. Not only do unauthorized files get blocked, but attempts to open them are logged, serving as logic-defying evidence for invasive inspections.
Barrier against Free Thought
These measures are undeniably North Korea's response to the South's attempts to inform its people about life in a freer society. Western media, often smuggled into the country on USB sticks launched over the border by balloons, remains popular among the North Korean populace. Rumor has it, even "Friends," a punishable TV series in North Korea, is a hit.
Question: will North Korean citizens comply silently? A small yet persistent faction has proven to be defiant, using a technique known as 'root access' to hack smartphone systems, remove restrictions, and revel in some measure of freedom.
Caution: the required know-how remains exclusive, but a sizable enough group has emerged to catch the North Korean regime's attention. Lumen believes this rebellion large enough to warrant a new law in 2020, exclusively outlawing manipulation of smartphone software to disable security features.
"Lumen suspects that the explicit mention of this law drives home the gravity of the situation and highlights the regime's concerns."
Sources: BBC, Lumen Report
- North Korea
- Smartphone
- Kim Jong-un
Observations and Further Insights
- Language Manipulation: The censoring of South Korean words, as well as auto-corrects that enforce regime-approved discourse, can be traced back to the regime's broader efforts to shape its citizens' ideologies, restrict foreign influences, and maintain its grip on cultural narratives[1][2][3].
- Surveillance and Control: The monitoring of user activity highlights the regime's dedication to molding its citizens' digital lives in a propaganda-heavy environment, building an inescapable system of surveillance and control[1][2][5].
- Technological Advancements: The use of technology in North Korean conquests underlines the regime's increasing reliance on technological means to enforce ideology and maintain political control, marking a departure from past methods such as propaganda posters and radio broadcasts[1][3][5].
- Despite appearances, North Korea's smartphones are heavily censored, with the home screen displaying the North Korean flag instead of a typical Google logo and restricting access to select local websites.
- Intriguingly, the North Korean smartphones also have an auto-correct feature that automatically changes South Korean terms to regime-approved terms, such as "Comrade" instead of "Oppa."
- The North Korean government has also been found to monitor user activity on these smartphones, logging screenshots automatically every five minutes and prohibiting unauthorized files, a clear attempt to control and shape their citizens' digital lives.
