Imagine a smartphone that doesn’t just limit your access to information but actively spies on your every move, all while bombarding you with state-sanctioned propaganda. Sounds like a dystopian nightmare, right? Well, it’s a chilling reality in North Korea, and YouTuber Mrwhosetheboss has pulled back the curtain on this Orwellian world in his latest video, Testing North Korea’s Illegal Smartphones. But here’s where it gets even more unsettling: these devices aren’t just censored—they’re designed to be tools of total surveillance and control. And this is the part most people miss: they’re not just blocking apps or websites; they’re rewriting language itself, replacing forbidden terms like 'South Korea' with 'puppet state' and flagging modern slang as forbidden. Is this the future of state control, or a cautionary tale for the rest of the world?
In his deep dive, Arun Maini of Mrwhosetheboss examines two smuggled North Korean smartphones: a budget model and a premium device cheekily named the 'Samtaesung 8.' These phones aren’t just stripped of Google services or global chat apps—they’re engineered to monitor citizens and enforce ideological conformity at every turn. Running on Android 10 and Android 11, they feature familiar-looking apps like browsers, calendars, and cameras, but here’s the twist: most are fake, designed to trap users in a government-controlled bubble. Some apps refuse to open, while others spew propaganda or glorify North Korean leaders. Even international content, like Russian and Indian movies, is pirated, edited, and rebranded by the state.
But here’s where it gets controversial: these phones don’t just restrict—they actively surveil. Every time you open an app, the device secretly takes a screenshot, storing a detailed record of your activity. File access is severely limited, Bluetooth is disabled, and even clock settings are locked to the government’s timezone. Want to install a new app? Good luck—you’ll need in-person government approval, and even then, it’s time-limited. Local files and photos are tagged with state signatures, ensuring foreign content is instantly deleted. Is this extreme control justified as a matter of national security, or a gross violation of individual freedom?
What’s most striking is how these phones redefine personal computing. The very concept of a private device doesn’t exist here. Instead, every interaction is monitored, every word is scrutinized, and every piece of content is curated by the state. It’s a stark reminder of how technology can be weaponized against its users. Does this make you rethink the role of smartphones in our lives? Or does it highlight the importance of digital freedom in the modern world?
As you watch Mrwhosetheboss’s video, you can’t help but wonder: could this happen elsewhere? Or is North Korea an extreme outlier? One thing’s for sure—it’s a chilling glimpse into a world where technology isn’t a tool for empowerment, but a weapon of control. What do you think? Is this the future we want to avoid, or just a distant reality we can ignore? Let’s discuss in the comments—but remember, in North Korea, even your comments would be monitored.
