Beijing sets up snitching app for reporting smokers

Anti-tobacco activities have hit what is possibly a new low with the setting up of a messaging app through which people in Beijing can report smokers who indulge their habit where smoking is banned.

According to a piece by Sharon Choi on the Shanghaiist blog, there had been violations of Beijing’s public-places tobacco smoking ban at one in three public venues within a week of the June 1 launch of the ban.

And with a smoking population of four million in the capital, it was impossible for law enforcement to catch all of them.

However, in an attempt to catch as many as possible, Beijing’s municipal government has set up a public account on WeChat called ‘No Smoking Beijing’, where users can upload pictures of smokers and tag their location.

The account features anti-smoking videos, the full text of the banning regulations and smoking-related health impacts.

And for those who don’t use WeChat, Beijing has set up a hotline, 12320, through which smokers can be reported.