China Can Access Mobile Phone Data To Spy On People

from the but,-you-know,-only-for-good-reasons dept

Tue, Jan 29th 2008 11:57am — Mike Masnick

Given China's mentality towards its citizens, it probably won't surprise many people to find out that the head of the country's biggest mobile phone operator gleefully acknowledges that it can spy on anyone's location and has no qualms about handing that info over to authorities. He also talks about how the company is considering using this data to better target advertisements. While the article paints this as somehow shocking, it's been widely assumed that this was true already. And, the idea, as expressed in the article, that it wouldn't or couldn't happen in the United States seems a bit naive as well. Given how telcos helped the US government spy on phone calls without warrants, it seems like it may already be happening here as well.

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Filed Under: china, civil rights, mobile phones, privacy, surveillance, us

29 Comments

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Anonymous Coward, 29 Jan 2008 @ 12:29pm

They are coming to take you away, Mike. Watch out! The man is coming. Oh no. Get a life.
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Overcast, 29 Jan 2008 @ 12:38pm

And, the idea, as expressed in the article, that it wouldn't or couldn't happen in the United States seems a bit naive as well.

Couldn't agree more. Anyone who thinks otherwise - remember... your social security number is not to be used for purposes of identification... :)

Oh is it now?

I agree - I'm sure it's already happening here. That's what the 'Patriot' act is for.
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comboman, 29 Jan 2008 @ 12:41pm

May?!?
Given how telcos helped the US government spy on phone calls without warrants, it seems like it may already be happening here as well.
What do you mean may? It's been happening since at least 2005. For once America is ahead of the Chinese.
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Killer_Tofu (profile), 29 Jan 2008 @ 12:45pm

Poster #1
Is either a fool or one of the people trying to pull the strings. Either way the comment is completely irrelavent.
Mike never claimed they were coming to get him. Did you post that thinking you were making some point or something? The only thing you accomplished in showing was ignorance, both with regards to Mike's post and our government.
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Incredulous, 29 Jan 2008 @ 12:57pm

Tracking someone's location by their cell phone is commonplace. There was a news story a few months back about a woman who disappeared, and was found in her wrecked car BY TRACKING HER CELL PHONE SIGNAL! This is news?
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chris (profile), 29 Jan 2008 @ 1:13pm

they track your cell... not you
if you are going to kill someone, don't take your cell with you.

if you are selling nuclear secrets to the chinese, don't take your cell with you.

if you are planning on getting in a car accident, remember take your cell with you.
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Geoff, 29 Jan 2008 @ 1:13pm

Cell Phone - Roving Bug
Fed's are already listening.

The U.S. Commerce Department's security office warns that "a cellular telephone can be turned into a microphone and transmitter for the purpose of listening to conversations in the vicinity of the phone." An article in the Financial Times last year said mobile providers can "remotely install a piece of software on to any handset, without the owner's knowledge, which will activate the microphone even when its owner is not making a call."
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be free, 29 Jan 2008 @ 1:20pm

Re:
@ Anonymus Coward

>> They are coming to take you away....

Yeah yeah yeah, whatever. You like China? Then I'm sure you're thrilled about the new post-Patriot Act/H.R. 1955 US.

A lot of us are not.

You do know that the government lied about Al Qaeda right (the caves didn't exist). You do know that they lied about the WMD. You do know that they lied about the 911/Iraq connection right, and you still want to trust the government with your every private little detail.

I'm sick of mockery from people like you when somebody points out illegal action from the government, and are quick with the conspiracy label or paranoia label.

It's not that he's asking for much here, just not having to be under surveillance 24/7. Is that really too much to ask?
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Overcast, 29 Jan 2008 @ 1:24pm

Funny thing is - really - some people believe 'Government'.

Even though - pick a day - any day - and you can find a politician lying. Anyone who thinks these politicians in power are being honest - is Naive indeed.

I bet they believe Network News too :)
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confused_guy, 29 Jan 2008 @ 1:25pm

difference
It is amazing to see how big the difference is between the response of media and politicians on steve jobs and a chinese telecom CEO when they both said we know where you are through your cellphone.
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4-80-sicks, 29 Jan 2008 @ 1:28pm

Re: Poster #1
Is either a fool or one of the people trying to pull the strings. Either way the comment is completely irrelavent. Mike never claimed they were coming to get him. Did you post that thinking you were making some point or something?
When you can't make a rational argument, tear someone down by trying to discredit their reputation. Especially with a sarcastic, seemingly offhand comment.
Funny thing is - really - some people believe 'Government'.

Yep. He's apparently one of those.
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J Kerry, 29 Jan 2008 @ 1:32pm

Re: Re:
Then I'm sure you're thrilled about the new post-Patriot Act/H.R. 1955 US.
A lot of us are not.
You do know that the government lied about Al Qaeda right (the caves didn't exist). You do know that they lied about the WMD. You do know that they lied about the 911/Iraq connection right, and you still want to trust the government with your every private little detail.
I trust them and am glad they might be listening, because we really have to keep track of looney tunes like you.
Gawd, see a shrink and get a life.
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Anonymous Coward, 29 Jan 2008 @ 1:44pm

Re: Re: Re:
then you sir, are a danger to our free society, you have been brainwashed and it may be too late for you.

keep on watching that fox news and drinking the koolaid. The conspiracy theory guys make more sense with each passing day.
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Geoff, 29 Jan 2008 @ 1:49pm

To COWARD.

Your name is appropriate, for that you are. It would appear that you are a left-wing liberal puke who doesn't know your ass from a hole in the ground. I bet your boy friend is ramming you while you recklessly run your mouth. Is that engaging enough for you princess?
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midnight_toker, 29 Jan 2008 @ 2:13pm

I'll go one better
Not only do they have the ability to track you, they can turn your cellphone on and listen to it's environment. It has been done and made public in the prosecution of a mobster.

http://www.news.com/2100-1029_3-6140191.html
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Cixelsid, 29 Jan 2008 @ 2:14pm

Re:
The price of freedom is vigilance!
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Cixelsid, 29 Jan 2008 @ 2:20pm

Re: Re: Poster #1
Funny thing is - really - some people believe 'Government'.

Yep. He's apparently one of those.

That's right, like good little sheep, gaily follow your master to the abattoir.
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Bear, 29 Jan 2008 @ 2:45pm

Re: Anonymous coward
Why would you criticize or mock Mike when all he is doing is trying to warn you of this danger to your freedom? I don't understand, please explain.
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The Man, 29 Jan 2008 @ 3:14pm

China is the Enemy
Most forget that they are commies. They are the enemy and want to destroy us. They are trying to destroy our economy and right now we are helping. When we wake up and start sanctions. Watch out for military retaliation. There are leaked china gov. documents that spell this exact situation out as their master plan to destroy the US.
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Jeff, 29 Jan 2008 @ 7:10pm

The do that in the US too - link
Any Gov can spy on you if you carry a cell phone...here's a link to a little covered Fox News Story from 2006

http://www.freedomsphoenix.com/Find-Freedom.htm?At=021267&From=News
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ImmunityForTheTelecoms, 29 Jan 2008 @ 8:32pm

Of course the US telecoms have been spying, illegally, for the government. Why do you think Bush asked for retroactive immunity for the telecoms in the fooking STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS !
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Anonymous Coward, 29 Jan 2008 @ 10:53pm

Re:
They are coming to take you away, Mike. Watch out! The man is coming. Oh no. Get a life.

What a tool.
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Cixelsid, 30 Jan 2008 @ 8:09am

Re:
"...fooking STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS !"

If you watched the SOTU address... why are you swearing like an irish person?
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Carsten, 30 Jan 2008 @ 6:02pm

Informed Article
In case you would like to read an informed article and not no-brainer copy&paste journalism (I don't include Techdirt here), take a look at Imagethief:
"... Wang could have picked his words better. "We know who you are, but also where you are," makes it sounds like he is arranging a mob hit.
But that doesn't change the fact that, from what I can see in this article, China Mobile is doing much the same things as mobile telecoms operators the world over. All mobile phone operators know where you are. That's how a mobile network works. ..."
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Dstanboew, 25 Aug 2008 @ 6:33am

spy mobile phone
If you have a WM6 or symbian os mobile, you can use a mobile spy software to spy on your mobile phone learn more : Spy mobile phone
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mobile spy, 8 Feb 2009 @ 8:53am

Mobile spy happens anywhere
Actually, mobile phone spy happens anywhere in the world.
Anyone can use a mobile spy software like Mobile Spy to spy others
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gangstalking, 22 Feb 2009 @ 4:16am

They are already doing this.
They are already doing this. They used this method in America 2 years ago, to put a mob boss in prison. They had his cellphone company remotely install software on his cellphone and it listened into all his conversations.

Apparently the technology has been available for years. Also the cameraphone can be used to watch you as well. People all over are carrying little bugs and spying machines. Remember the batman movie that came out last summer? There is a scene where they use all the phone in the city as one big bugging device, and I don't think that is so far off from the truth. You are in a surveillance society, the problem is most people just don't realise it yet.

http://www.GangStalkingUnited.com

Check out the free ebook, lot's of information about this stuff.
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au pair, 9 Dec 2010 @ 2:10am

oh it must be not easy to live over there. Me I am lucky I live in Europe
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FOX Mobile Spy, 11 Sep 2013 @ 2:08am

FOX Mobile Spy
You can try I have been using this software because it is easy to recommend.

http://download.cnet.com/FOX-Mobile-Spy/3000-10440_4-75990480.html

FOX Mobile Spy is a free cloud hosted android app to help you track and monitor your cellphone on cloud sever and your own phones, monitor your cellphone anywhere and anytime, free to track your phone's sms, incoming and outcoming calls, apps italled, gps location track.
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