Comment on In North Korea, your phone secretly takes screenshots every 5 minutes for government surveillance
lechekaflan@lemmy.world 3 days ago
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.
I remember watching a series of Youtube videos by a guy working in the diplomatic department of a Southeast Asian country who I can’t name, and he took videos while on the sly, his camera (or phone) hidden carefully, showing some glimpses of life in Pyongyang. At one point he and his wife visited the government-run department store and, yeah, it’s pretty much a drab place to be there, you’ll be only buying necessities. However, there’s the special section where certain types of people such as high officials and foreigners are allowed to buy electronics, mostly with hard currency, and the merchandise included smartphones, all of them looked to be Chinese brands.
Lex4@lemm.ee 3 days ago
Sounds like Jaka Parker. Him and his wife are Indonesian diplomats. His videos weren’t really covert. He wore a very obvious bodycam most of the time. His videos are a bit dated now, but they’re still a fascinating glimpse into North Korea. Him and his family were often the only customers in a lot of the shops and restaurants he showed. Presumably they were meant for foreigners and/or elite North Koreans. He even has video of his wife giving birth at a maternity hospital.