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SEOUL, December 23 (AJP) - Starting Tuesday, anyone activating a new mobile phone in South Korea must undergo face verification in addition to presenting an ID.
The Ministry of Science and ICT said it launched a pilot program for stricter identity checks to prevent phones from being illegally activated for crimes such as voice phishing and smishing.
Under the program, face verification will be mandatory for new activations at in-person sign-up counters run by major telecom operators including SK Telecom, KT, and LG Uplus as well as online channels operated by some 43 budget carriers.
After a roughly three-month trial, the ministry plans to expand the verification procedure to all mobile carriers in March next year.
Addressing privacy concerns, the ministry said facial data will be used solely for identity verification and immediately deleted afterward.
The Ministry of Science and ICT said it launched a pilot program for stricter identity checks to prevent phones from being illegally activated for crimes such as voice phishing and smishing.
Under the program, face verification will be mandatory for new activations at in-person sign-up counters run by major telecom operators including SK Telecom, KT, and LG Uplus as well as online channels operated by some 43 budget carriers.
After a roughly three-month trial, the ministry plans to expand the verification procedure to all mobile carriers in March next year.
Addressing privacy concerns, the ministry said facial data will be used solely for identity verification and immediately deleted afterward.
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