In the latest news, Chinese patrol officers are taking control of tourists’ phones at the Chinese borders and installing a surveillance app. In what comes as a shocker, the border guards are also getting an opportunity to delve into the personal data.
The Guardian reveals that the actions of Chinese border agents are a part of increased security measures at Xinjiang region.
Getting in the way of freedom?
The government is allegedly meddling with freedom of Muslim population by fixing face recognition cameras in public spaces and also forcing them to install the app that searches their phones for critical information.
Reportedly, the phones are being returned after being taken to separate rooms to undergo a scanning process. Besides giving the guards access to private information such as e-mails, text messages and social media profiles, the information is also supposedly stored on the server.
The news of unwarranted access to phones broke out when the guards forgot to delete the app before returning the phones in some cases. The practice, however, is prevalent only in Xinjiang, the troubled region of Kashgar, which has been in the spotlight for national security threats.
Blockchain to tackle privacy issues
With growing concerns over privacy hijacking of local communities and travelers, the technology intellectuals are now turning to blockchain for answers.
Using the zero-tolerance proof blockchain solutions like zk-STARK, the Chinese border agents can verify information without storing or unjustifiably interfering with user privacy.
The blockchain solution facilitates transactions that can be verified along with maintaining the anonymity of the user. As a result, when the Chinese border police scan the phones for information, they will not be able to access sensitive information like finances or e-mails.
zk-STARK, a cryptographic technology of proof, will ensure that the authorities are able to verify the presence of questionable content on the phone without violating the privacy of the user.
Thus, advancements in blockchain prove that governments can now combine highest-level surveillance methods with foolproof privacy and reliability to attain unparalleled security at borders.
