Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Officials have begun demanding identification from anyone buying a new mobile phone number in what the government claims is an attempt to stamp out junk messages. Critics say the measure, enacted yesterday, gives the Communist regime a new tool for monitoring its citizens.
The rules apply to everyone, including foreigners. The state-run China Daily newspaper said the regulation was "the latest campaign by the government to curb the global scourge of spam, pornographic messages and fraud on cellular phones". The new rule will probably not affect Chinese dissidents, many of whom already have their phones monitored. But it could help police to track down ordinary people who take part in spontaneous protests, said Wang Songlian, of the Hong Kong-based Chinese Human Rights Defenders. Previously, cheap Sim cards could be bought anonymously with cash at shops and newspaper kiosks and used straight away, as in the UK.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments