Chinese citizens will soon need to scan their face before they can access internet services or get a new phone number

Chinese citizens will soon have to start using facial identification in order to sign up for internet services or get a new mobile number. The Chinese government announced last month that residents applying for a new mobile or internet device will have their faces scanned by telecommunications carriers. The new rules will apply from December 1. China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), which is the state agency responsible for internet and technology regulation, wrote that the decision was part of its moves to "safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of citizens in the cyberspace" and prevent fraud, according to Quartz. Recent reports indicate that China has around 854 million internet users.