China launches mandatory face scans for mobile users

A new rule requiring face scans of customers signing up for new mobile plans in China came into effect Sunday (Dec. In September, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology announced the change (link in Chinese) in a notice to telecom operators, saying it would "protect the legitimate rights and interest of citizens in cyberspace." The notice said that "artificial intelligence and other technical methods" should be used to match the faces of customers buying new SIM cards with their identity documents. The policy is part of a broader push by the Chinese government to limit people's ability to stay anonymous online. Under existing rules, consumers applying for new phone numbers need to show their national identification card and have their photos taken.