After my last post, a blog reader who has spent time in China emailed me with this reaction:

“By the way, that picture you shown where there is a tiny device inside the car is actually a part of a sound system. Most cars in Asian countries fixed such devices. I really can’t believe that your general knowledge is so limited.”

According to my research, the device I pictured is a microphone. All the warnings I received indicated that my conversations were recorded and/or occasionally monitored while riding in Beijing taxis. However, my sources were always American/Western, where as this blog reader is from Asia.

I hope my previous post didn’t come off as paranoid, but rather as aware. It’s impossible to be paranoid about the censorship in China because it exists, a fact for which China does not apologize.

But am I wrong about the photo in my last post? If anyone knows, shoot me an email (lmtxbb@mizzou.edu) or post in the comments below!