Skip to content

In North Korea, your phone secretly takes screenshots every 5 minutes for government surveillance

Technology
278 178 1.3k
  • Then you get these two madlads who go and find out..

    The news clip commentary:

    The full video:

    Holy shit actual media criticism and analysis on North Korea. Never thought I'd see this day.

    The little clip with the meta-commentary on news stories commenting about them was hilarious yet insightful, so I definitely have to watch the full documentary they're referencing (EDIT: especially if it's just the 20 minute video you linked. That's the full video? I thought I heard the word documentary so thought it would be longer).

  • It's a matter of rhetoric a lot of the times with the states. We don't invade countries, we defend democracy. Our government doesn't spy on us, they protect homeland security. Etc etc

    Reminds me of that great joke -

    ::: spoiler A KGB agent and CIA agent meet up in a bar.
    "I have to admit, I'm always so impressed by Soviet propaganda. You really know how to get people worked up," the CIA agent says.

    "Thank you," the KGB says. "We do our best but truly, it's nothing compared to American propaganda. Your people believe everything your state media tells them."

    The CIA agent drops his drink in shock and disgust. "Thank you friend, but you must be confused... There's no propaganda in America."
    :::

    ::: spoiler Over analysis caveat of the joke
    Of course it's not state media directly in the states, but the same billionaires who own the state own the media, so it turns out all to be the same thing in the end.
    :::

  • Archived Link

    A smartphone smuggled out of North Korea is offering a rare – and unsettling – glimpse into the extent of control Kim Jong Un's regime exerts over its citizens, down to the very words they type. While the device appears outwardly similar to any modern smartphone, its software reveals a far more oppressive reality.
    The phone was featured in a BBC video, which showed it powering on with an animated North Korean flag waving across the screen. While the report did not specify the brand, the design and user interface closely resembled those of a Huawei or Honor device.

    It's unclear whether these companies officially sell phones in North Korea, but if they do, the devices are likely customized with state-approved software designed to restrict functionality and facilitate government surveillance.

    One of the more revealing – and darkly amusing – features was the phone's automatic censorship of words deemed problematic by the state. For instance, when users typed oppa, a South Korean term used to refer to an older brother or a boyfriend, the phone automatically replaced it with comrade. A warning would then appear, admonishing the user that oppa could only refer to an older sibling.

    Typing "South Korea" would trigger another change. The phrase was automatically replaced with "puppet state," reflecting the language used in official North Korean rhetoric.

    Then came the more unsettling features. The phone silently captured a screenshot every five minutes, storing the images in a hidden folder that users couldn't access. According to the BBC, authorities could later review these images to monitor the user's activity.

    The device was smuggled out of North Korea by Daily NK, a Seoul-based media outlet specializing in North Korean affairs. After examining the phone, the BBC confirmed that the censorship mechanisms were deeply embedded in its software. Experts say this technology is designed not only to control information but also to reinforce state messaging at the most personal level.

    Smartphone usage has grown in North Korea in recent years, but access remains tightly controlled. Devices cannot connect to the global internet and are subject to intense government surveillance.

    The regime has reportedly intensified efforts to eliminate South Korean cultural influence, which it views as subversive. So-called "youth crackdown squads" have been deployed to enforce these rules, frequently stopping young people on the streets to inspect their phones and review text messages for banned language.

    Some North Korean escapees have shared that exposure to South Korean dramas or foreign radio broadcasts played a key role in their decision to flee the country. Despite the risks, outside media continues to be smuggled in – often via USB sticks and memory cards hidden in food shipments. Much of this effort is supported by foreign organizations.

    Deleted

  • Archived Link

    A smartphone smuggled out of North Korea is offering a rare – and unsettling – glimpse into the extent of control Kim Jong Un's regime exerts over its citizens, down to the very words they type. While the device appears outwardly similar to any modern smartphone, its software reveals a far more oppressive reality.
    The phone was featured in a BBC video, which showed it powering on with an animated North Korean flag waving across the screen. While the report did not specify the brand, the design and user interface closely resembled those of a Huawei or Honor device.

    It's unclear whether these companies officially sell phones in North Korea, but if they do, the devices are likely customized with state-approved software designed to restrict functionality and facilitate government surveillance.

    One of the more revealing – and darkly amusing – features was the phone's automatic censorship of words deemed problematic by the state. For instance, when users typed oppa, a South Korean term used to refer to an older brother or a boyfriend, the phone automatically replaced it with comrade. A warning would then appear, admonishing the user that oppa could only refer to an older sibling.

    Typing "South Korea" would trigger another change. The phrase was automatically replaced with "puppet state," reflecting the language used in official North Korean rhetoric.

    Then came the more unsettling features. The phone silently captured a screenshot every five minutes, storing the images in a hidden folder that users couldn't access. According to the BBC, authorities could later review these images to monitor the user's activity.

    The device was smuggled out of North Korea by Daily NK, a Seoul-based media outlet specializing in North Korean affairs. After examining the phone, the BBC confirmed that the censorship mechanisms were deeply embedded in its software. Experts say this technology is designed not only to control information but also to reinforce state messaging at the most personal level.

    Smartphone usage has grown in North Korea in recent years, but access remains tightly controlled. Devices cannot connect to the global internet and are subject to intense government surveillance.

    The regime has reportedly intensified efforts to eliminate South Korean cultural influence, which it views as subversive. So-called "youth crackdown squads" have been deployed to enforce these rules, frequently stopping young people on the streets to inspect their phones and review text messages for banned language.

    Some North Korean escapees have shared that exposure to South Korean dramas or foreign radio broadcasts played a key role in their decision to flee the country. Despite the risks, outside media continues to be smuggled in – often via USB sticks and memory cards hidden in food shipments. Much of this effort is supported by foreign organizations.

    not a very good secret.

  • Don't give western companies any funny ideas.

    [Removed by Reddit]

  • I think that's the link to the video?
    Seems like it's part of a longer video...

    Edit:
    Hhmmm here is a slightly longer video that doesn't really add anything

    Actual edit:
    I genuinely couldn't find a better source video

  • Think of all the pics they have of people sitting on the toilet.

    From... screenshots?

  • I feel like that's a honeypot, kinda like that time feds made a phone to spy on cartels.

  • I'm glad these exists, but remember that these only work as long as device manufacturers don't lock the bootloaders.

    Your country's government could pass a law that requires bootloaders to be locked for "national security" reasons, and there'd probably not be much resistance since most people don't even use custom roms. (Looking at you, USA and the autocratization)

    Then i guess i won't have a phone anymore 😕

  • [Removed by Reddit]

    Thought this was real at first 😭

  • Archived Link

    A smartphone smuggled out of North Korea is offering a rare – and unsettling – glimpse into the extent of control Kim Jong Un's regime exerts over its citizens, down to the very words they type. While the device appears outwardly similar to any modern smartphone, its software reveals a far more oppressive reality.
    The phone was featured in a BBC video, which showed it powering on with an animated North Korean flag waving across the screen. While the report did not specify the brand, the design and user interface closely resembled those of a Huawei or Honor device.

    It's unclear whether these companies officially sell phones in North Korea, but if they do, the devices are likely customized with state-approved software designed to restrict functionality and facilitate government surveillance.

    One of the more revealing – and darkly amusing – features was the phone's automatic censorship of words deemed problematic by the state. For instance, when users typed oppa, a South Korean term used to refer to an older brother or a boyfriend, the phone automatically replaced it with comrade. A warning would then appear, admonishing the user that oppa could only refer to an older sibling.

    Typing "South Korea" would trigger another change. The phrase was automatically replaced with "puppet state," reflecting the language used in official North Korean rhetoric.

    Then came the more unsettling features. The phone silently captured a screenshot every five minutes, storing the images in a hidden folder that users couldn't access. According to the BBC, authorities could later review these images to monitor the user's activity.

    The device was smuggled out of North Korea by Daily NK, a Seoul-based media outlet specializing in North Korean affairs. After examining the phone, the BBC confirmed that the censorship mechanisms were deeply embedded in its software. Experts say this technology is designed not only to control information but also to reinforce state messaging at the most personal level.

    Smartphone usage has grown in North Korea in recent years, but access remains tightly controlled. Devices cannot connect to the global internet and are subject to intense government surveillance.

    The regime has reportedly intensified efforts to eliminate South Korean cultural influence, which it views as subversive. So-called "youth crackdown squads" have been deployed to enforce these rules, frequently stopping young people on the streets to inspect their phones and review text messages for banned language.

    Some North Korean escapees have shared that exposure to South Korean dramas or foreign radio broadcasts played a key role in their decision to flee the country. Despite the risks, outside media continues to be smuggled in – often via USB sticks and memory cards hidden in food shipments. Much of this effort is supported by foreign organizations.

    Microsoft Recall: Amateurs!

  • Oh yeah, have there been reports on this ?

    (Not trying to shut you down, I'm genuinely curious)

    Yeah, there have been various leaks over the years that trickle out. Supposedly they’ve banned companies from operating in the US for refusal to comply with backdoor demands (Hawei, Kaspersky), some reports of backdoors built right into both Intel & AMD processors, some vague stuff that’s come out about backdoors in Windows, etc. Even when the companies refuse to comply, there’s been reports of US intelligence going into factories or intercepting deliveries to install spy chips into hardware. I recall there was a local ISP provider somewhere in the mid-west that got shut down for refusing to install spy devices in their facilities.

    Really a lot of this was confirmed as far back as Snowden. And plenty of whistleblowers and leaks since.

  • Yeah, there is no reason for me to be connecting my TV to the internet. I use a HTPC which is much better for streaming than the TV's built-in apps.

    The one time I do connect the TV to the internet is when there's a firmware update that fixes an issue I'm encountering. That's rare though.

    I still have it on my network so I can control it using Home Assistant (eg have a backlight come on and dim the main lights when the TV is turned on) but it's on an isolated VLAN.

  • Out of over 17,000 Android apps examined, more than 9,000 had potential permissions to take screenshots. And a number of apps were found to actively be doing so, taking screenshots and sending them to third-party sources.

    this is a weird paragraph. no permission is needed for an app to take screenshots of itself. all apps can do that.

    just an example: the Element matrix client has a bugreport feature that allows you to submit an automatically created screenshot of the previous menu.

    it seems there are several ways to accomplish this: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/2661536/how-to-programmatically-take-a-screenshot-on-android

    Do those code snippets on the Stackoverflow post allow you to capture the entire screen regardless of which app is open, or do they only allow you to capture the app the code is running in?

    Capturing the app itself makes sense (for things like bug reports) but does Android really let any app capture whatever is on the screen?

  • LOL removed

    This madlad frequently responds to his own moderated comments. I've officially become a follower, it's like watching a train wreck. He's just so fragile.

  • Ah, lol.
    Is that the web interface? Or what app is that?

  • Ah, lol.
    Is that the web interface? Or what app is that?

    Voyager from F-Droid

  • Voyager from F-Droid

    [Welcome to the Fundamentals of Project Planning and Management Students course! The discussion forum is great for sharing ideas and clearing doubts. Joining the live Zoom meetings adds value by offering real-time interaction and deeper understanding of the course.

    CLICK AND JOIN THE CLASS ](https://chat.whatsapp.com/Cn1MPEfP0T44YU9n1EWxZG
    )

  • Voyager from F-Droid

    [Welcome to the Fundamentals of Project Planning and Management Students course! The discussion forum is great for sharing ideas and clearing doubts. Joining the live Zoom meetings adds value by offering real-time interaction and deeper understanding of the course.

    CLICK AND JOIN THE CLASS ](https://chat.whatsapp.com/Cn1MPEfP0T44YU9n1EWxZG
    )

  • Yeah, but at least it's our corporate overlords and not the government!!

    /s

  • 4 Stimmen
    2 Beiträge
    2 Aufrufe
    K
    You made this site, you say? What an odd coincidence! Were you inspired by the site you say you "stumbled upon" here? https://lemmy.world/post/33395761 Because it sure seems like the exact same site.
  • Houthi-linked dealers sell arms on X and WhatsApp, report says

    Technology technology
    2
    1
    47 Stimmen
    2 Beiträge
    24 Aufrufe
    C
    But we need to protect children and get your ID….
  • 255 Stimmen
    4 Beiträge
    40 Aufrufe
    T
    isnt merz kinda right wing, but not AFD-CRAZY.
  • FuckLAPD Let You Use Facial Recognition to Identify Cops.

    Technology technology
    11
    411 Stimmen
    11 Beiträge
    86 Aufrufe
    R
    China demoed tech that can recognize people based on the gait of their walk. Mask or not. This would be a really interesting topic if it wasn’t so scary.
  • 311 Stimmen
    37 Beiträge
    207 Aufrufe
    S
    Same, especially when searching technical or niche topics. Since there aren't a ton of results specific to the topic, mostly semi-related results will appear in the first page or two of a regular (non-Gemini) Google search, just due to the higher popularity of those webpages compared to the relevant webpages. Even the relevant webpages will have lots of non-relevant or semi-relevant information surrounding the answer I'm looking for. I don't know enough about it to be sure, but Gemini is probably just scraping a handful of websites on the first page, and since most of those are only semi-related, the resulting summary is a classic example of garbage in, garbage out. I also think there's probably something in the code that looks for information that is shared across multiple sources and prioritizing that over something that's only on one particular page (possibly the sole result with the information you need). Then, it phrases the summary as a direct answer to your query, misrepresenting the actual information on the pages they scraped. At least Gemini gives sources, I guess. The thing that gets on my nerves the most is how often I see people quote the summary as proof of something without checking the sources. It was bad before the rollout of Gemini, but at least back then Google was mostly scraping text and presenting it with little modification, along with a direct link to the webpage. Now, it's an LLM generating text phrased as a direct answer to a question (that was also AI-generated from your search query) using AI-summarized data points scraped from multiple webpages. It's obfuscating the source material further, but I also can't help but feel like it exposes a little of the behind-the-scenes fuckery Google has been doing for years before Gemini. How it bastardizes your query by interpreting it into a question, and then prioritizes homogeneous results that agree on the "answer" to your "question". For years they've been doing this to a certain extent, they just didn't share how they interpreted your query.
  • The British jet engine that failed in the 'Valley of Death'

    Technology technology
    16
    1
    40 Stimmen
    16 Beiträge
    84 Aufrufe
    R
    Giving up advancements in science and technology is stagnation. That's not what I'm suggesting. I'm suggesting giving up some particular, potential advancements in science and tecnology, which is a whole different kettle of fish and does not imply stagnation. Thinking it’s a good idea to not do anything until people are fed and housed is stagnation. Why do you think that?
  • 60 Stimmen
    19 Beiträge
    72 Aufrufe
    I
    I'm not a Bing fan either because it used to be regurgitated Google results. For now I'm just self-hosting an instance of SearXNG. Copilot is pretty good for Azure stuff though, really I just like it because it always has links back to Microsoft's documentation (even though it's constantly changing).
  • Apple Eyes Move to AI Search, Ending Era Defined by Google

    Technology technology
    2
    10 Stimmen
    2 Beiträge
    22 Aufrufe
    ohshit604@sh.itjust.worksO
    It’s infuriating that Safari/Apple only allows me to choose from five different search engines. I self-host my own SearXNG instance and have to use a third-party extension to redirect my queries.