undefined | Better HN

0 pointsraincole8mo ago0 comments

Don't listen to the sibling commenter who doesn't know what they're talking about.

No, you don't need ID verification to use search engine or read news in China.

However, sites that depend on user-generated content (like forums) would ask for at least your phone number.

0 comments

djoldman8mo ago

How easily can a burner be used?

Are sim cards easily swapped?

raincoleOP8mo ago

> Are sim cards easily swapped?

Very easily. Apple even specifically introduced dual-sim iPhone for China.

> How easily can a burner be used?

You need to bring your ID to a telecom to get a phone number legally. But I don't know if there is a black market for burner sims.

(Last time I've been there was a few years ago so take it with a grain of salt.)

Gathering66788mo ago

Burner sims have been a thing of the past in China for quite some time. The official rationale I believe is to curb telecom fraud, which in turn left China and started doing their business in southeast Asia.

computerfriend8mo ago

> Very easily. Apple even specifically introduced dual-sim iPhone for China.

Because they don't support eSIMs there.

jesterson8mo ago

There is no such thing as "burner". Phone number is very hard to get and requires ID verification and sorts

dmurray8mo ago

It's very easy to get. As a visitor, I got one in the airport for $20. "ID verification" is stretching it, but like so many things in China it requires the vendor to take a photo of your ID, and unusually also to take a photo of you and submit it to the telecom website.

1 more reply

keysdev8mo ago

Not sure about now. It was before the covid. Keep in mind everything is done via weechat anyway now days.

Anyone from behind the great wall care to comment? Is HN event reachable from behind the great wall with out Tor?

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse