Keeping the Iron Curtain Alive: The Propaganda-Pushed Smartphones of North Korea
- Text Author: Malte Mansholt
- Approximate Reading Time: + - 2 Min
Censored Communication Channels in North Korea: Every Feature, Including Autocorrect, Propagandizes State Control - Censored Mobile Devices in North Korea: Propaganda Included in Every Correction
Step into the secretive world of North Korea, where dictator Kim Jong-un, dwellings of poverty, and military marches are usually the first things that cross one's mind - not smartphones. Yet, these gadgets have insidiously infiltrated the country that prides itself on isolation. A recent BBC expose provides a glimpse into how these devices are subtly manipulated to reinforce propaganda and monitor citizens.
The BBC obtained a North Korean smartphone hidden away in the country, smuggled out in the latter part of 2021. At first glance, it appears indistinguishable from an Android phone produced by a company like Huawei or Honor. However, beneath the surface lies a horrifying web of regime control over citizens' daily lives.
North Korean Flag, Google? Nah, Never!
Starting from the home screen, it's evident that this is no ordinary device. Instead of a Google logo, the North Korean flag triumphantly stands tall. Despite the phone's ability to connect to mobile networks, the user's access to information is heavily restricted, limited solely to websites operated directly by North Korea [1][2][3].
The authorities are obsessed with keeping their digital fingers on the pulse of the nation. A peculiar folder occupies the home screen, crammed with screenshots automatically snapped every five minutes. The user cannot open, save, or delete these files - only the authorities can [1][2][3].
The autocorrect function deserves special mention. When the user types the South Korean term "Oppa" (a term used by younger generations to address a male love interest), it automatically corrects it to "Comrade." On the contrary, attempting to type "South Korea" results in the term "puppet state."
Linchpin of a Divided Society
There have been reports of smartphone surveillance by the human rights organization, Lumen, in 2022 [4]. Alongside the aforementioned restrictions and screenshots, Lumen also reported that content filters directly on the smartphone ensure that only media endorsed by the regime is viewable [1][4]. Any unapproved files are not only blocked but attempting to access them is also logged for subsequent inspection, potentially used as evidence in punishment.
These measures are likely a response by the regime to efforts by South Korea and the West to expose the genuine conditions of a freer society to the North Korean population. Western media and shows like "Friends" are smuggled into the country, sometimes hidden on USB sticks tied to balloons [1][2][3].
The Digital Resistance?
While some North Koreans may find these measures a challenge, the number of individuals who access unfiltered information is seemingly limited. According to Lumen, the necessary technical knowledge remains elusive to most citizens. However, the rebellious movement seems strong enough that even the Kim regime is actively taking steps to prevent further subversion [4].
A law was passed in 2020 explicitly forbidding manipulation of the software of smartphones. The regime is keenly aware that their measures may not be foolproof, evident in the creation of such an explicit law. Lumen asserts that the very fact that this law exists suggests a widespread problem, one that the regime wants to address vigilantly [4].
Sources: BBC, Lumen Report
- North Korea
- Smartphone
- Kim Jong-un
Enrichment Data:
North Korea exerts extensive control over content on its regime-controlled smartphones, using software deeply embedded in the devices to censor, monitor, and enforce ideological compliance upon the population.
Censorship Mechanisms
- Automatic Word Replacement: North Korean smartphones automatically censor and replace specific words or phrases deemed politically sensitive or indicative of foreign influence [1][2][3].
- Blocking Access to External Information: The phones do not have access to the global internet. North Korea blocks information from outside the country, ensuring that users cannot access foreign news, media, or websites [1][4].
Surveillance Features
- Covert Screenshot Capture: The smartphones are programmed to take a screenshot of the user’s activity every five minutes, saving them in a hidden folder accessible only by state officials [1][2][3].
- Constant Monitoring: This system enables the regime to build detailed digital profiles of individuals, with our without their knowledge, and monitor their activities for potential review by security forces [2][3][4].
Enforcement and Legal Framework
- Legal Penalties: Consuming foreign media or utilizing South Korean slang has become illegal in North Korea, with significant penalties imposed since 2020, including the use of "youth crackdown squads" in 2023 to police even simple usage of South Korean terms [4].
- Indoctrination Through Technology: The technological controls on smartphones are part of a broader effort to indoctrinate citizens, shielding them from outside influences and reinforcing the official narrative of the Kim regime [3][4].
Impact
These measures ensure the perpetuation of North Korea's oppressive regime by maintaining a constant atmosphere of surveillance and control over its citizens, limiting their access to unbiased information, and silencing dissent. These measures serve not only as censorship but as a means to enforce ideological compliance and quell dissent [1][2][3].
- Kim Jong-un, the leader of North Korea, has implemented extensive control over content on regime-controlled smartphones in an effort to censor, monitor, and enforce ideological compliance upon the population.
- The smartphones used in North Korea are equipped with censorship mechanisms such as automatic word replacement and blocking access to external information, as well as surveillance features like covert screenshot capture and constant monitoring.
