The rules adopted in September 2019 are now in force. The government also introduced stronger safeguards to its real-name SIM policy.
Background: China is one of the many countries where the purchase of a SIM card requires some form of registration. Until this year, the requirements included a check on customers’ national ID document and a photo to be taken by the operator. This was in line with common practice followed in the countries where SIM registration requirements are in place.
Facial recognition comes into force: In September 2019, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) updated the rules for SIM registration, to include a facial recognition test that will match the customer’s face with the ID registered by the operator. The requirement complements an existing one for users who register online, who already have to submit a short video to prove they are the person matching the identity of the document.
Stronger safeguards for the real-name policy: Other provisions clamp down on the transfer of SIM cards, to ensure that a SIM registered under one’s real name is not used by someone else. Users will not be able to resell or transfer their SIM, and will be actively encouraged to check that no SIM cards are registered under their name, except those they actually use. Mobile operators are required to raise awareness of these new requirements through advertising campaigns, and to provide users with a service to check the identity associated with a phone number. Any number for which users raise an objection should be immediately verified.
