Hong Kong's Tiananmen vigil organiser disbands

To monitor its population even more closely, North Korea is placing surveillance cameras in schools and workplaces.

According to a report, North Korea is collecting fingerprints, photographs and other biometric information from its citizens to keep a record of the population.

The surveillance toolsand equipment being used by North Korea are being imported from China. These surveillance tools and domestic software are shrinking the limited space for citizens to conduct private business, access foreign media, or express dissent.

Add WION as a Preferred Source

North Korea's ambitions for digital surveillance are hampered by its limitations. Undersupplied electricity and internet infrastructure, and a dependence on human intelligence gathering, make widespread digital monitoring difficult, according to a report by 38 North, a website specialising in North Korean affairs.

New laws and recent information on harsher penalties suggest that the government is cracking down on foreign influence and imported media, likely helped by fences and electronic monitoring systems installed on the border with China during the pandemic.

Martyn Williams, an analyst and co-author of the study with Natalia Slavney said, “Having seen that it’s possible to close the border this firmly, I think they are now devoted to keeping it that way.”

“While in terms of broader surveillance across the country, the pandemic could have played a part, but I think a much bigger role has been played by the fast-reducing cost of surveillance equipment,” Williams said.

To understand North Korean surveillance, researchers analysed domestic and international media reports, reviewed publicly announced research from North Korean institutions, and interviewed 40 escapees.

Additionally, they partnered with unidentified sources to conduct a 2023 survey of 100 current residents via encrypted phone calls, texts, and other methods to guarantee their safety.

As per the state media reports, video surveillance is becoming very common at schools, workplaces and airports. All these surveillance cameras are mostly from China and range from basic video feeds to more advanced models that include features like face recognition.

Experts have warned that China is exporting the technology that powers its AI-powered surveillance to countries around the world.

Regardless of limitations like power shortages and existing human surveillance networks, North Korea seems to be building for a future with widespread video monitoring.

The report highlights research efforts at North Korean universities focused on movement detection, facial recognition, and license plate recognition technologies.

While they may not be fully utilising collected data yet, these developments suggest a future with more pervasive digital surveillance.

(With inputs from agencies)