The Chinese government is working on a bill that will regulate the use of wireless technologies, including Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, in the country.
The bill requires operators of Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and any other form of ad-hoc, mesh, and wireless networks to implement data monitoring systems, “advance core socialist values,” “adhere to the right political directions,” and users to “take measures to prevent the production of copying or dissemination of unsolicited information and counteracting it. In case of obtaining such information, it is recommended to contact the competent authorities.Let me remind you that we also wrote that China Is Accumulating Vulnerabilities and Exploiting Them in Cyber-Spy Attacks, and also that US Authorities List Vulnerabilities That Chinese Hackers Attack.
And the media also wrote that the Chinese authorities use AI to analyze the emotions of Uyghur prisoners.
The State Internet Information Office of the People’s Republic of China (CAC) has already prepared relevant recommendations, addressing them to operators of “ad-hoc short-range networks”, that is, providers who can use local networks to promote non-socialist values or content that violates the country’s existing laws.
Operators of such networks are expected to be required to “prevent and counter” the use of their equipment to spread fake news and illegal content by immediately reporting such activities to the authorities.
Network users will be required to provide data about their real identity, and network operators will be required to collect information about all users connecting to their network and transfer it to the authorities upon request. In addition, operators will be required to display warnings to users, reminding them not to abuse the network infrastructure and discouraging them from illegal actions. Operators will also be required to prepare a contingency plan.
However, there is no indication in the CAC document whether this plan only applies to commercial operators or affects any Wi-Fi access points in general. It is also not entirely clear why the document mentions Bluetooth networks.
It is speculated that this may be a sign that the Chinese authorities plan to control any peer-to-peer networks like Apple’s AirDrop at all. After all, it was AirDrop that was actively used by people during the recent mass protests related to COVID restrictions.
