Currently, smart electronic devices are deeply integrated into work and life, bringing great convenience to people. The newly revised common regulations respond to the demands of the times and the eager expectations of military personnel, adjusting the management of smart electronic devices based on the principles of moderate relaxation, orderly control, and security confidentiality, further standardizing the timing, occasions, and confidentiality requirements for their use.
■ Regarding the management of smart electronic devices, the newly revised “Internal Regulations of the People’s Liberation Army” adds a new provision in Article 240: Military units and personnel must respect and protect the personal privacy of military personnel in the management of smart electronic devices; without approval according to national laws and military regulations, information technology means must not be used for inspection or supervision.
■ Regarding the use of smart electronic devices, the newly revised “Internal Regulations of the People’s Liberation Army” adds a new provision in Article 243: Soldiers in the unit may use personal smart electronic devices during rest days, holidays, and personal discretionary extracurricular activities; at other times, devices are usually centrally managed by squad, platoon, or company.
Focus
Article on the management of smart electronic devices by a certain brigade of the 80th Group Army——
Smart Watches: Benefits and Precautions for Use
■ Wang Bingxin, Special Correspondent of the PLA Daily, Fu Junchen
The soldiers of the brigade wear smart watches for fitness. Wang Bingxin photo. On a weekend in early summer, a marathon was held at the station of a certain brigade of the 80th Group Army. Running enthusiast and squad leader Pan Rengang reported as required and went out to participate. During the run, he adjusted his stride and pace in real-time based on the information displayed on his smart watch, achieving his personal best. After the long run, Pan Rengang checked his running data on the smart watch and told reporters, “Our smart watches all have a dedicated ‘electronic ID card.'” Upon receiving the smart watch handed over by Pan Rengang, the reporter saw a plastic-sealed card on the back of the watch, recording the watch model, network status, user name, and other information. The head of the information support department of the brigade told reporters that after the implementation of the newly revised common regulations, they registered the smart electronic devices of military personnel in real names according to the regulations, synchronizing the user’s name, device model, and purpose into the management system. In addition, they further standardized the management methods for smart electronic devices, which are centrally managed by squad and platoon. Soldiers can use personal smart electronic devices during rest days, holidays, and personal discretionary extracurricular activities. In a certain company dormitory, a dedicated charging cabinet for smart electronic devices caught the reporter’s attention. Inside the charging cabinet, soldiers’ phones, watches, and bands are stored separately. “Devices are centrally managed during training, and used as needed during rest, ensuring confidentiality requirements and life needs are both met,” said Company Commander Zheng. The convenience brought by technological empowerment is quietly emerging in the lives of soldiers. A certain sergeant, Dong Yuncheng, showed reporters his exercise records—during his weekend rest, he enjoys wearing a smart watch to the swimming pool. Based on the heart rate and stroke frequency information displayed on the watch, he scientifically adjusts his pace, continuously improving his swimming performance. Entering the gym in the camp, the reporter saw many soldiers wearing smart watches for “data-driven” fitness: the watches record heart rate, calorie consumption, and other data in real-time, generating personal fitness training files after workouts. “In the past, fitness data was recorded manually, which was time-consuming and labor-intensive; now, the data on the watch is clear at a glance and can automatically generate training analysis reports,” said Liu, an officer from the brigade, smiling. “The blood oxygen saturation detection and other functions of smart watches are also very popular among soldiers. During rest times, everyone measures their levels with the watch.”
“Smart electronic devices are not a flood beast; the key is to manage well and use them correctly,” said the brigade leadership. In the next step, they will further leverage the positive role of smart electronic devices in scientific training and health management while ensuring safe use, allowing technology to truly serve combat effectiveness.
Key Points
Enjoying convenience while adhering to strict boundaries
■ Yan Zhuang
Without passing the network barrier, one cannot pass the era barrier. To pass the network barrier, one must first pass the confidentiality barrier. The newly revised common regulations provide specific provisions for military personnel using personal smart electronic devices and the international internet, giving clear guidelines for their use. These regulations adhere to coexistence with “intelligence” and dancing with the “network,” respecting and protecting the personal privacy of military personnel, maintaining moderate relaxation, orderly control, and security confidentiality, which not only meets the demands of the times but also responds to the eager expectations of military personnel, winning widespread approval. “Success is achieved in secrecy, while failure is due to leaks; nothing is more important than confidentiality in military affairs.” While feeling pleased, military personnel must clearly recognize that smart electronic devices and the international internet are both “double-edged swords”; when used well, they can improve work efficiency and achieve technological empowerment, but if misused, they can lead to issues such as leaks. While enjoying this “dividend,” military personnel must strictly adhere to relevant requirements and must not forget the bottom line and red line stipulated by the new regulations. The newly revised common regulations clearly state that military units must implement real-name management for the smart electronic devices used by their personnel, and military personnel using personal smart electronic devices must adhere to the “seven prohibitions,” while military units and personnel using the international internet must strictly observe the “nine prohibitions”… This series of specific regulations provides military personnel with warnings and delineates red lines for the use of smart electronic devices and the international internet.
Comrade Mao Zedong said: “We must pay great attention to confidentiality; nine and a half points are not enough, nine and nine are also not enough; it must be ten points.” There is only a word difference between confidentiality and leaks, and glory and shame are a thought apart. Military personnel must engrave the requirements for using smart electronic devices and the international internet in their hearts and actions, constantly aligning with the new regulations, and resolutely preventing leaks from occurring, truly allowing modern technology to serve us and contribute to winning in military strength.
Personal Experience
Careful Management for Peace of Mind
■ Wang Wenbo, Acting Instructor of a Guard Company at the Air Force Aviation University
Illustration: Tang Jianping. Earlier this year, I was transferred from the headquarters to the company. Upon arriving at the company, one thing caught my attention: several soldiers had coincidentally changed to new phones, even the new models that had not been used for long were “eliminated.” One day after roll call, taking advantage of the class meetings, I entered the squads and chatted with the soldiers about this matter. Private Zhang Aosen expressed his feelings: “It’s not that I like new things, but I had no choice.” It turns out that recently, the higher-ups organized a check on mobile phone usage management, and he, who had always been cautious, stumbled: “Because of an urgent family matter, I reported to the company and used my phone to call my family during training breaks. During the inspection, it was found that my phone had usage records during class time, and I was required to write an explanation…” “During the last phone check, the inspectors asked for my consent to view my chat records.” Private Chen Jingtang said, “Although I agreed, I felt uncomfortable thinking about someone else looking through my chat records.” Through the conversation, I learned that the main reasons for everyone changing phones were twofold: first, “unintentional mistakes,” fearing that the phone could not be thoroughly cleaned, so they simply opted for a new phone; second, although their private information did not contain any violations, they were afraid that refusing to allow inspectors to view it would lead to unnecessary misunderstandings, so it was easier to change phones. Being cautious while using their phones, soldiers became increasingly anxious over time, with some soldiers having nothing but call records with family on their phones. With the implementation of the newly revised common regulations, this awkward situation has finally improved. The newly revised common regulations clearly state that military units and personnel must respect and protect the personal privacy of military personnel in the management of smart electronic devices; without approval according to national laws and military regulations, information technology means must not be used for inspection or supervision. The newly revised common regulations moderately relaxed the use of smart electronic devices, and many soldiers applauded. However, squad leaders also face practical challenges: how to relax and how to manage? “Blocking is not as good as guiding; a change in thinking is needed to achieve a scientific balance between implementing the system and being people-oriented.” My speech at the committee meeting resonated with everyone, “The management of mobile phone usage can only achieve careful management and peace of mind if convenience and security are well balanced.” Therefore, we immediately clarified to the soldiers that “no inspection without approval, no inspection without orders.” At the same time, relaxation does not mean laxity; we led the soldiers to carefully study the relevant requirements of the new regulations and compiled a “mobile phone usage guide” to guide everyone in the safe, scientific, and compliant use of smart electronic devices. Since the implementation of the newly revised common regulations, the soldiers in the company have consciously adhered to the principle of “rules can be followed, restrictions can be understood, and safety is accounted for.” (Reported by PLA Daily reporter Wu Anning)