China warns couples that CCTVs may call 911 on PDA

Beijing couples trying to score a little public nookie should be worried about a little more than just disapproving looks from others: state news agency Xinhua reported yesterday that police CCTV monitoring computers tend to flag "intimate acts" as crimes like kidnapping and robbery, because they're "programmed to be sensitive to violations of safe distances." All this really means, of course, is that working for the Beijing 5-0 just got a little more interesting: officers will first "monitor" the suspected crime to make sure things are on the up-and-up before dropping in and killing the mood. You keep that city safe, boys.

[Aaron Zollo @ Jul 26th 2007 6:55PM]

Does noone realize China is still a dictatorship? This does not just refer to gay and lesbians. This referes to all acts of intimacy between people. China is not something we should want to be like.

[Patrick Stanger @ Jul 26th 2007 6:59PM]

Hey, you wanna chill out bud? This article never said that we should be like China. It's actually rather impartial, as journalism should be.

[endGame @ Jul 26th 2007 7:00PM]

china is actually socialist.

plus, you're getting the idea of a dictatorship wrong.

[AshR @ Jul 26th 2007 7:56PM]

Gay and lesbians aren't people?

[info @ Jul 26th 2007 8:32PM]

"China is not something we should want to be like."

If you only knew how very much LIKE China the USSA really IS behind the scenes!

[Kunikos @ Jul 26th 2007 8:37PM]

@endGame: China is more of a communist country than socialist. Sweden is socialist. Canada is somewhat socialist-leaning. China takes old Russian communism and then introduces some measures of capitalism with state-oversight such that they won't get overthrown. China is not the same type of government as South American socialist countries either. China's persecution of all religious groups is purely based on Maoist doctrine, which presupposes that any faith-based organization will foment rebellion against a repressive state.

[Tim @ Jul 26th 2007 10:34PM]

Wait, wait, wait. Do you think America should persecute gays and lesbians via CCTV cameras? And the article isn't about China going out to arrest publicly intimate people. They're just pointing out there's a bug in their software that might make their behavior look criminal. I think most adult Americans understand that China is an economic superpower, but it does not treat its citizens well under their communist rule. No one really wants to look to China when working for social reform.

[L. Cyphre @ Jul 27th 2007 3:39AM]

@Kunikos
China isn't communist in anything but name though. As a matter of fact there has never been a true 'communist' country, only socialist ones *aspiring* to become communist ('communism' is the ideal utopian socialist society which was never achieved).

For all practical purposes China is now a capitalist dictatorship with corrupt, communist- styled institutions.

Also, moar pictures of cute kissing Chinese girls please.

[DAZA @ Jul 27th 2007 6:27AM]

lol, L. Cyphre. . I think that's a dude and a chick.

[lyl545646 @ Jul 26th 2007 6:58PM]

Well, it's true though, the male and female ratio have worsen so much since the 1980s...
now it's about 120 boys for each 100 girls...

[aron @ Jul 26th 2007 7:00PM]

Xinhua News Agency said "intimate acts of lovers may be initially categorized as 'kidnapping' or 'robbery' by the computers, which are programmed to be sensitive to violations of safe distances."

They didn't say that intimate acts are criminal. Rather, in order to detect KIDNAPPING and ROBBERY, the program seeks out close contact, which may in term misinterpret intimate acts as the aforementioned acts of crime.

[Josh @ Jul 26th 2007 7:20PM]

Exactly. UK take note: this is where you're headed.

We across the pond too, unless we wake up.

[Chuckles McGee @ Jul 26th 2007 7:36PM]

The thought police will get you!!

On a serious note, my friend from China actually refers to the communist party as "The Party". A little too Orwellian for me...

[Kunikos @ Jul 26th 2007 8:37PM]

@Chuckles McGee: Of course he does. There is no other political party to be confusing it with!

[L. Cyphre @ Jul 27th 2007 3:42AM]

In Soviet China, hearts and kisses steal YOU!

[paloooz @ Jul 26th 2007 7:01PM]

Now if only those were the Samsung models ...

[Elaine @ Jul 26th 2007 7:27PM]

Actually, the one on the left is a guy.

[paloooz @ Jul 26th 2007 8:04PM]

Now if only they were two female Samsung models ...

[Kr4t05 @ Jul 26th 2007 7:08PM]

Off-topic: I do enjoy the expression of the uniformed man on the left. He's got the universal "Eck..." thing going on.

[BananaBoat @ Jul 26th 2007 7:24PM]

So the thing might make a mistake, who cares. It's not as if you are going to be arrested. Even moreso than that, if you are two chicks kissing, the government of China would probably be thrilled, since two chicks can't make a baby that the government would then have to "Liquidate" for population control.

But in all seriousness, report this story again when it ACTUALLY reports snogging as kidnapping, and the police are called out.

[Josh @ Jul 26th 2007 8:10PM]

If you're a lawmaker in any capacity please tell me your name so I know to never again vote for someone with such a frightening point of view.

[Rainier @ Jul 26th 2007 7:25PM]

Says the guard on the left to the guard on the right, "Don't even think about it!"

[alejo699 @ Jul 26th 2007 7:26PM]

Given China's attempts to limit its citizens' access to the internet this is not a surprising development. But thank you, Engadget, for finding us a relevant (if Photoshopped) photo of some Asian girls making out. I read the articles, too, I swear!

[comrade @ Jul 26th 2007 7:59PM]

Is that dude a chick?

[Xee @ Jul 26th 2007 8:05PM]

Is that chick a dude?

[David @ Jul 26th 2007 8:08PM]

@Josh -
Correction: The UK is already there and then some. With a ratio of 1 surveillance camera for every 14 people, the UK populace is the most watched in the world. Britain also has 3.6 million DNA samples, which is the largest such DNA database in the world.

Source: BBC News

[eqsf @ Jul 26th 2007 10:35PM]

Ingsoc come true from 1984, huh

[Marc @ Jul 26th 2007 9:22PM]

Ever work for a large academic institution, government agency, or corporation in America? Little difference. All email and communcation monitored - cameras everywhere. They are likewise non-democratic. If you "make out" at work (or in government) - there is corrective action or worse. For large corporations, PDA in public places after work is punishable (since you are a "brand manager" for the company). Ask Clinton. At least in China they're not hypocrites.

"Excess ain't rebellion, when you're buying what they're selling."

[ziphem @ Jul 27th 2007 8:46PM]

I guess getting head does constitute a public display of affection. But, in Cliton's case, it wasn't public. In any case, I'm getting off-topic. When I go into work tomorrow, I'll see if I can get some nookie and let you know if I get the pink slip as a result (no perverse subtle meaning intended).

[hn333 @ Jul 26th 2007 10:38PM]

How will this work with my iPhone?

[Michael @ Jul 26th 2007 10:48PM]

Whatever they do, "For the basic benefit of most people".
We spend too much on administrating, we afford the largest administration group of the world, but we seemed like prisoners. Damn!

[SuMtOnE @ Jul 26th 2007 11:41PM]

the guy on the right is like Eww gross... and the guy on the left says lets give it a try hahah

[SuMtOnE @ Jul 26th 2007 11:41PM]

the guy on the right is like Eww gross... and the guy on the left says lets give it a try hahah

[FukSurveillance @ Jul 26th 2007 11:48PM]

I worked for a division of an Australian company that is a large consumer website not NineMSN and those corporate snakes and scumbags put me and other people under illegal covert surveillance not only at work.... which I expected anyway but extended this to home computers.
I went to complain to the authorities and they did absolutely jack.
Public surveillance you are worried about?
Everything is recorded already.
\
Australia is still a prision camp with consumers instead of convicts.

[macstrat @ Jul 26th 2007 11:48PM]

interesting pic. if both of those people kissing are girls it makes the story that much more ironic. being gay is illegal in china. doesn't mean its not there, but a PDA like that would get them a fine at the least

[nmosfet @ Jul 27th 2007 12:21AM]

No it isn't. where is your evidence?

http://www.xist.org/earth/pop_gender.aspx

[Lazerface @ Jul 27th 2007 12:36AM]

Where's the PDA?

[Xee @ Jul 27th 2007 12:51AM]

Think he means Public Display of Affection.

[drtekger @ Jul 27th 2007 1:07AM]

Since I happen to be in China at this very moment I find this picture SUPER awesome. You don't see people make out in public at all. Only in Clubs in Shanghai and during night time. Best photoshop job EVER!

[Kei @ Jul 27th 2007 7:45AM]

alot of people here seem to simply want to scream communism. I'll bet 99% who do that on here as well haven't even BEEN to China! Which makes me sick!

I've BEEN to Shanghai, Beijing, and ZhenZhang.
They're great, open, people are nice and I haven't had any restrictions whatsoever! It may still be called communism, but it certainly isn't like that. Maybe people should stop watching the propoganda that comes out of their televisions and start actually TRAVELING. (although it's difficult when I hear only 25% of American's have passports, is that true???)

This message comes from a Half British and Half Qatari with an open mind that loves to travel the world to see truths with his own eyes.

Oh and you need to hit up china once. Their clubs are better than any I've ever DJed at in Cali or London.

[Onemanbandwidth @ Jul 28th 2007 5:23AM]

"Since I happen to be in China at this very moment I find this picture SUPER awesome. You don't see people make out in public at all. Only in Clubs in Shanghai and during night time. Best photoshop job EVER!"

It is an ANCIENT picture...It has been on china blogs and boards since Mao was a corporal....There are plenty of public displays of affection in the bigger cities and on campuses now...I don't think it is a Photoshop job....Lots of young folks doing stuff now just for shock value....

I think the move to 3-G technology this year will breed a new awareness of issues in China....The i-Phone will flop because you can already buy knock-offs of the things and there won't be enough biz in it for China Telecom to screw with it....They have 450 million cell phones, but cannot afford to be as trendy as the Japanese except in Hong Kong...EVERYONE will have 3-G soon after it is out and the Revolution may be just be Televised as a result!

[kiscyn @ Aug 1st 2007 8:06AM]

Anyone's noticed that stupid camera is added by photoshop, hasn't one?

[acgw @ Aug 5th 2007 3:45PM]

man,they are crazy!!