October 27, 2007
When using a mobile can cost your life
Mobile telephony is a way of life for us - but reports that North Korean officials are stepping up their clampdown on mobile phones put things in perspective. The Guardian reports.
"With the levels of mobile phone ownership at record highs in the UK, most of us take ownership of a phone for granted. Even when you travel around less wealthy places around the world, the mobile is everywhere - and much more important to many people than computers or internet access.
But some places are still a dead zone for the mobile. We've seen recently how the Burmese junta closed down communications, but one prime example is North Korea, where the repressive regime bans mobiles and sends teams to patrol the border with China and catch those who try to use phones illegally.
Many North Koreans who use mobiles to contact the outside world bury them near the border and make calls at prearranged times (here's an illuminating piece from a couple of years ago). It's sobering stuff."
The Permanent Link to this page is: http://www.textually.org/textually/archives/2007/10/017754.htm
