Beijing to Begin Tracking Citizens Using Cell Phones
Thursday, March 3, 2011 at 1:21PM 
Authorities in Beijing plan to begin tracking citizens using cell phone location information, a decision that has already raised concerns about privacy violations.
Dubbed the Beijing Residents Real-time Travel Information Platform, the system will compile information on users' movements around the city. By tracking each person's time of departure, destination and means of transport, city officials hope to gain a better understanding of traffic flow.
Beijing is notorious for its traffic problems. Remember the nine-day, 62-mile-long traffic jam last year?
To avoid these types of disastrous delays, Beijing authorities hope to continuously provide traffic information to drivers and other commuters and work toward developing a more effective public transportation system.
Chinese commentators and bloggers, on the other hand, are concerned that cell phone tracking could enable the government to track protestors or dissidents.
Cell Phone, China, Surveillance in China, Surveillance 
Reader Comments (1)
That will be a great idea. But of course they should also see the disadvantage of this special if this one will be used in crimes.