China issued a warning to its soldiers that they are forbidden to use Internet-connected wearable gadgets such as smartwatches and smart glasses, which they believe could endanger security. The warning came after the government learned about a recruit who tried to capture an image of the troops, saying that such action is a clear violation of the secrecy regulations implemented at army barracks.
Reports say that the recruit used his smartwatch, which he received as a birthday gift, to take a photograph of his co-soldiers in the Nanjing, Jiangsu province where they are stationed. Immediately after that incident, the agency, which has been tasked to protect state secrets, issued a decree on wearables used by military personnel.
"The use of wearables with Internet access, location information and voice-calling functions should be considered a violation of confidential regulations when used by military personnel."
The recruit reportedly came out in cold sweat when he finally realized the number of functions his smartwatch can perform. It was said that security personnel at the barracks had confiscated the wearable and studied the captured data.
The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Daily, the military's official newspaper, said that warning signs and teaching materials were made following the decree in order to ensure that everyone in its military personnel is aware of the message.
The newspaper added that, as soon as a soldier wears a device that can perform functions such as recording audio and video in high-definition, transmitting and processing data and taking photos, there is a risk that he gets tracked or that military secrets are revealed.
Research fellow Peter Quentin at Rusi was quoted by BBC saying "Anything that is networked can be remotely accessed and exploited by others to provide an advantage to adversaries."
There was no information on whether the confiscated smartwatch was the recently launched Apple Watch. It should be noted that Apple launched the Watch on April 24 in nine countries, including China.
There's also no clear indication that the smart glasses referred to in the report was actually Google Glass.
"When officers and men put on these type of spectacles, it is extremely possible that army positions can be tracked, endangering the security of military operations," the report says.
The ban on the use of wearables is deemed a natural extension of the already imposed restrictions by most armies on the use of mobile phones.
"It's why you already see leaving of phones outside of areas where sensitive discussions take place," adds Quentin.
Photo: Herve Bry I Flickr
