How North Korea Is Using Smartphones as Weapons of Mass Surveillance

As smartphones and mobile devices become more common in North Korea, technology isn’t just improving communication; it’s giving the government a powerful tool to spy on its people. The Wall Street Journal investigates Pyongyang’s sophisticated surveillance technologies. Photo: Paolo Bosonin
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[@majow]

For a country thats supposed to be poor and starving. They extremely smart in inventing a perfect operating system for themselves. Unless they have been taught this.

[@TransitAndTeslas]

lucky me They didn’t invent anything. Android is already out there as a free license.

[@ganeshkumar269]

LoL, ignorant you. Also the guy mentioned that it was android in the video.

[@gavindhailwal3432]

@007 jb Someone mad

[@gavindhailwal3432]

@Dirk Klapwijk Ok boomer

[@NEVERMIND-io5mp]

@@gavindhailwal3432 💀the CEO of Microsoft is from India

[@fjaajf]

Of course, porn always finds its way.

[@MATAM29]

Fritz Asuro Death.

[@prbrrrrrrrrrrr4424]

VPN

[@jin_cotl]

antonio rod yes I LOVE VPN

[@sandguy134burns7]

Vasian Vasianich um k

[@asten9647]

Nord vpn

[@peterabraham1437]

You gotta admire how effective Kim is at controlling his people. Guy gives them tablets and then uses that to spy on them.

[@fadrium1464]

But at other parts of the world, people buy it use it and give their data voluntarily to Google or apple.

[@mrksurprice7406]

Safe as USA spies

[@ilovenoodles7483]

@Gaming Authority Exactly people labor and spend their own money to get spied on. Not only that but people freely give out information and make it so easy for anything to get found out about it them that the government doesn't even _have to_ "spy" on them. The info. is all there in the open, readily available. People leave their location on, they post pictures of themselves, their children, gossip and even put their secrets out there and even have their personal information on whatever is in the background of their pictures.

[@Commissar_4735]

Just like the cia

[@Asiablue]

Governments do this with ALL smartphones. What do you think the NSA is for?

[@126hawk]

How is this a surprise to anyone. Of course NK watches their citizens and so does every other country.

[@Asiablue]

Agreed! That is exactly the point.

[@SyrupSplash]

It's easy to track a 10th, or even 5th of data out of a country with 25 million people. It's not so easy to track the data usage of 90% of a country with 320 million people. North korea collects and actively monitors the data they collect, and have the right to use that data to punish someone. That's the difference between NK and the US

[@Asiablue]

So you say: www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jul/31/nsa-top-secret-program-online-data

[@seorsuelos9272]

Asiablue use a tor browser done the us funds it 2

[@jamesoxford4260]

Why don't you do a piece on the US?

[@wtfisgoingon337]

James Oxford oh no that will be treason

[@lp-rs1yq]

Because it would make their heads explode from the sheer horror of what insidiousness she'd discover.

[@FuckPolitcs]

All this is a global effort. North Koreans are guinea pigs. Now these systems have rolled out into China. Then most likely a global war will happen and all these systems will be installed right under our noses... Just kidding itd make a good sci-fi novel tho...

[@imj3200]

Whataboutism

[@FATHOLLYWOODB123]

Why don't they do a piece on China?

[@basilidesthefalse3460]

Truly 1984. All they were missing was the infamous ‘telescreen’ and now they have one and worse it’s portable.

[@SFVYachtClub]

At least their surveillance tools don't spam you with ads like ours do. 😏

[@GregCalleja]

It's not like the NSA doesn't do this 🙄

[@doujinflip]

Greg Calleja Surveillance activities have to learn how after the fact, whereas NK designs their devices with the tools embedded before distribution. And since actual Android is both Open Source and forked ridiculously, that's a challenge raised in almost every new case... hacking would be simpler on the more standardized iPhone.

[@JasonandDomjokers]

Praise Snowden

[@kv-2743]

Scratches at level 6, with deeper groves at level 7.

[@redblaze93]

underrated comment

[@petersmythe6462]

"The government was monitoring devices around the clock." Yes. This is true. In almost every country. In fact, multiple different governments are doing so.

[@porkbellyism]

well I won't be executed being a normal citizen googling outside information, that is a huge difference.

[@ishan2219]

@@porkbellyism are u sure that's the truth?

[@mskiara18]

I imagine when North Korea creates a social media for the citizens, the privacy invasion would expand further. To be aware that individuals are okay being assigned to monitoring their brethren is sad. Yes I am aware that this type of invasion is common internationally, but citizens and their family are not being sent to prison for insulting the Government.

[@sonofnyx9437]

I don't know what country you live in, but it's common practice in every Western country to spy on people through their phones, especially social media. In USA, there's several cases of leftist activist groups and Black Lives Matter activists being tracked, harassed and imprisoned by the police through phone-tracking - all just for staging demonstrations against police violence, racism and government corruption. In France it's also punishable to publish or reference anything negative about the police and people have been already fined and even imprisoned for that. This is literally "being sent to prison for insulting the government". Even in Norway, thought to be if not the most progressive and liberal of Western states, has fined people for saying anti-government things. So, yeah, even in Western nations, citizens and their families are being sent to prison for insulting the government. Now that's just the West. In Iran, Russia, Saudi-Arabia, Israel, etc, it's even worse. North Korea is really not special at all. Just because it's more widespread in NK, does not mean it's not happening in other countries of the world, not even those assumed to be the most progressive and liberal. :/

[@SassyOnline]

It's almost like all other countries haven't been doing this for absolutely years. Wallstreet Journal really lives up to it's name, completely American. North Korea isn't a good place, but even the bad should have the truth told about them.

[@ChristianJiang]

I’ve been to Pyongyang. They do have smartphones, but unlike us, they do not walk while using their smartphones... They aren’t addicted at all!

[@basedpro-ua3470]

Maybe is because they don't have internet and apps like facebook, snapchat or instagram

[@AzaIndustries]

Mum can I get a comprehensive smartphone software ecosystem that also has access to all of humanity's knowledge? No honey we have one at home. Phones at home:.. "Not signed file"

[@null-0]

That used to be the case everywhere else like 12 years ago.

[@maddex6664]

@@basedpro-ua3470 but people upload snapchat? How

[@kalinarodak8818]

Why don't all the soldiers just turn against him? Then he will have absolutely no power!

[@aphrodite5651]

They are brainwashed that Kim Jong un is their god

[@harshasai9650]

I too thought about this

[@lakshdon2theboss852]

They are brainwashed

[@aravinddinesh3042]

excellent question. This is how you start learning about the social construct and culture of the Korean people. You can start by reading the history of the Korean peninsula.

[@arpan7654]

Well they could've turn their backs against Kim before brain washing

[@mastervz4806]

Every country is doing this.

[@Takcci]

North Korea is like my mom Confirmed.

[@KiyokaMakibi]

A death penalty for watching something not approved? Yikes that’s rather harsh… o_o That was scary hearing how the tablet would randomly take screenshots of your history (and I assume automatically send it off).

[@Alan1984B]

Lie.

[@amithmalik4648]

western media. : North Koreans don't have phones, electricity or underwear and they claim to have discovered u unicorns Also western media: North Koreans are been tracked with their smartphone 🙄

[@Alan1984B]

Exactly.

[@Lucian_deVere]

So basically my phone without WIFI

[@briceangelini6295]

It is even worst in the US. The title is a double shame!

[@patentlypaul1832]

No, because you can easily modify products and open source them

[@timkiller8887]

You live in the U.S.? I don't think anyone here has been executed by the state as a traitor for criticizing Trump. You're ignorant or flat out lying.

[@aromlaa7066]

Brice Angelini- Worse in the US? LOL. At least Americans don’t die trying to search one thing up.

[@IIO7142]

@@aromlaa7066 yeah,but FBI Open Up 😆

[@jejh600]

”North korea uses phones for mass surveillanve” Sounds just like the NSA

[@adminstration4077]

Public should come forward... every one is human so they don't have to torture people... I'm so sad bt one day everything will be fine..

[@navi9691]

i saw an instagramm iconnnnn 1:48

[@user-wq8wh9tv8q]

Navi Kalinga its nk's own "facebook" xd

[@sahararaptor7600]

Navi Chan no it's not. it's an actuall instagram copy only north koreans are allowed. (not a joke)

[@maxwellm1266]

they're phones run android 4.0 and has a lot of similar app icons like the google drive icon on their phones are background

[@o5.16s]

it’s labelled as “사진기” it basically translates to “camera” lol

[@be_come6743]

Navi Chan red

[@i3_i9]

I would love to get my hands on one of those phones!

[@Aetherguy-cb9bu]

Warning: a lot of conspiracy theorists have been spotted in the comments. Beware

[@ks5865]

Beware of what? An alternate view? So scary.

[@stoggafllik]

@@ks5865 >being this much of a fedora-wearing neckbeard conspiracist.

[@ks5865]

@@stoggafllik I'm a girl lol, and I guess questioning things and using critical thinking makes you a fat geek or something apparently..

[@hmmsim2665]

4:09 The year is 1970.

[@retrocysper3709]

lol they're advanced.

[@GamerBoy705_yt]

January 1 of 1970 is known as the Unix epoch, meaning that that's where it starts at.

[@alexuturgaidze5722]

Down with the big brother Down with the big brother Down with the big brother Down with the big brother Down with the big brother Down with the big brother Down with the big brother

[@joancat2734]

Look at the that ryugyong hotel looks like a missle 😳

[@shmorkshmire]

I'm so glad I live in America where my government would never spy on its citizens through our smartphones...

[@rickyparker1047]

Now there is where You Are wrong my friend .

[@Haider_Waseem_445]

Hahahahaha wikileaks.org

[@Haider_Waseem_445]

Laugh me hard. Hahahaha

[@shmorkshmire]

Xollix Sarcastic? Never

[@big_guy_of_leiden5688]

(Sarcasm)

[@PropertyOfHoliness]

All countries do this sir.

[@kagez6515]

north koreans now have smartphones like how americans have cars north koreans now have food like how an Angolan has food

[@bobjones27]

why anyone put thumb down is beyond my comprehension. your US dollar is valuable because of federal government and you have working fire departments, social security, stable electricity because of US government. there is no moral equivalence here.

[@thegtafanboy]

I’M PRETTY SURE THAT’S WHAT THE U.S. GOVERNMENT DOES!

[@adryantama6419]

That woman use samsung south korea smartphone brand?!!😐

[@sofiaspeak1397]

But there's no electricity in North korea how North Korean people charge the phone?

[@atomictransfusion]

they have electricity during the day

[@Silenthe]

"How North Korea Is Using Smartphones as Weapons of Mass Surveillance" lol, as opposed to who?

[@nikhilmavi2540]

2:47 north koreans use samsung mobile which is a south korean brand.How?

[@beatlelel3469]

Nikhil Mavi she’s living in South Korea when speaking

[@theVakhovske]

0:57 wait a minute ,second time i seeing Xiaomi in NK How??? Howw? Xiaomi sells in NK ONLY MI BAND3 OFFCIALLY

[@emiliobello2538]

I didn’t think they had smartphones there

[@WhiteDervish]

So does USA.

[@til159]

how ironic. i hope their is not one single person that belives its not even harsher done in all other countrys

[@kaioocarvalho]

Wow. Seeing the US media saying that is hillarious, to say the least.

[@abacus749]

I'm glad I don't live there.

[@Gmal51]

William Oscer Garvin: oh now people are using cell phones in North Korea country.

[@Silrak50]

The title cutted out and I thought it would be "mass murder"

[@tylerthebuda3133]

i think there r apps to add n use as a weapon but u have to have computer data line up n firemive had people point their phone at me n i collapsed

[@charliepearce8767]

So what government anywhere in the world doesn't monitor / track the user ??

[@kasmkarm]

give me a free smartphone and spy on me you do it anyway.

[@HongoKanata1]

She have recently fled to the south? I’m questioning the credibility of that... why doesn’t she have a North Korean accent?

[@Gmal51]

😲Oh after people in North Korea country did not want to allow people to use their cell phones now they wanted to use it.🤔

[@NathanChisholm041]

You mean the same tactics the NSA+ google use!

[@SobaYatai]

Did i just see instagram?

[@ath_ala8078]

i thought it was gonna say mass destruction

[@shane_gentle]

Please buy a WSJ subscription to watch this video.

[@brianpreston8483]

Don't you realize America is doing the same?

[@lamgwapo2009]

Kids in north korea would be watching cocomelon North korean version

[@yagoovirus2751]

0:31 anyone know what movie is this?

[@Olivia-if1nl]

We don't know. It's some North Korean movie, if it wasn't they would kill the kids. :/

[@sheeroo274]

Oh hey, YAGOO

[@jenniferfigueroa7877]

This reminded me of the novel 1984 by George Orwell

[@rzgrxu]

Jenny Figueroa This reminded me usa and all the other country

[@prbrrrrrrrrrrr4424]

VPN and jailbreak and problem solved

[@kelaskitasmpn1rantaupandan]

it's like living in the jail.

[@cat_loaf943]

You have spyware installed.

[@daco111]

0:34 wait, there was Google in North Korea?

[@titaniclane]

Google icon, but it’s just a backgrounds app

[@pixelian5605]

0:30 It saids he "recently defected". I don't think he is in North Korea.

[@learningindian4825]

I really fell sad

[@malanig]

oh really .. only north korea is doing it ? :D nice one WTJ !!!

[@y2k2006]

THAT ONE GIRL HAD INSTAGRAM

[@Ashu-peace]

That's really sad

[@benjafovi1cr328]

if they (DPRK) can only access intranet-- what is the point of smugglin a phone from china or SK?? it makes no sense to risk going to jail.

[@lucianistoc1264]

Foreign content and maybe ever communication with the outside world

[@bratzliplogical]

What cartoon is this at 0:29?

[@CoolAstrost]

Gargoyles :D

[@janesmith9024]

It is dreadful and totally different from what happens in South Korea. Most of us outside NK can watch what we like and are free.

[@Alan1984B]

Hahaha, no. In south korea you also can go to the jail if you watched socialist content. Like, you watched north Korean film and the government catches you. You go jail. That's how every country does.

[@andy.8444]

Nsa does exactly the same

[@죠니-w6l]

북한은 외부와 통제와 자신들의 의존과 사상을 중시하는 나라이기 때문에 어떻게 보면 외부와의 차단이라고 보면된다.

[@raymondcarter8915]

They want the same thing in the US, Monitor everyone to find something offensive.

[@doge7863]

They have 150 dollars per month

[@aileemaevillo3412]

Turn on the captions, thank me later

[@NateSF]

Um, the US is doing all of this too and that is a matter of public record. If you're going to do propaganda you could at least try a little harder

[@dharami4450]

No privacy at all

[@Cherry-bq4oh]

doesn't america do this exact thing?

[@isaacchawzek2713]

Why can the North Korea just use vpn

[@Android25K]

It really looks like Cuba , no internet and only what the state wants you to see

[@patentlypaul1832]

But in Cuba, they've created their own internet (Streetnet), made by the people there, not by the government. Information also slips into the Island freely by tourists and a selected weekly package, called . There actually IS internet access in Cuba, but it's very expensive.

[@chippypills]

Thanks for correcting him!

[@hmmhmm7029]

Atleast they allow people to get out of the country and have access on the internet and Cuba is communism

[@6dvc]

Internet in cuba has zero censorship although it is expensive

[@cuomoprimetime5153]

Patently Paul We need to hack N. Korea and flood smartphones with the truth!

[@slice-o-life]

Wait... I saw Instagram!!! That's American!

[@PlayGood-lw2mc]

3:51 aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.txt 😂

[@freedomforthebrave]

How can you live in a country like that I would leave

[@TJ-uv6wg]

Sadly they can't :(

[@freedomforthebrave]

@@TJ-uv6wg gotta make a run for ot

[@Mary-ue5kc]

Bro I have that piano app

[@ryanli6912]

I just realized that this video was posted the day I turned 13.

[@lonewolf7449]

X-KEYSCORE! Rings a bell????

[@FATHOLLYWOODB123]

Do a piece on China

[@midz77]

They don't Stop click bait.

[@Android25K]

I think the should have nukes inside of their smartphones

[@wickersb6495]

Yep just like my phone in North Korea

[@isaac7299]

smh can't beat my beat in privately welp time to use *vpn* 👏😩

[@kawesu8781]

Lol those phones are easy to root and regain internet access 🤣

[@cjhayzamudiocchannel1478]

Yeahh hahahahaha

[@retrocysper3709]

Someone gotta smuggle those tablets and bring them outside and hack these tablets HAHA.

[@thanesorbasyal706]

And you complain google is monitering you

[@mxo9656]

Same in the West.

[@phawarchanel8543]

One day God will give North korea Freedom and Democracy.

[@jho7781]

So is the FBI, DOJ

[@Haider_Waseem_445]

Well then I don't think the NSA failed here, they can collect the data from your phone easily no matter how much you restrict your phone and network system.

[@PffingAlexeyPetrov]

4:36 Google in North Korea

[@w7lves]

Ok now do big tech selling our info

[@soumyakanti17]

LoL! Which country isn't doing this?

[@avail1.]

The same is being done in the U.S. Proverbs 15:3 God of the Bible; and Heaven, and this Earth doesn't need "electronics" to observe all, humanity.

[@retrocysper3709]

welp your comment doesn't do anything smh.