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China is building a vast civilian surveillance network - here are 10 ways it could be feeding its creepy 'social credit system'

Apr 29, 2018, 12:47 IST

1. Using facial recognition technology that can pick people out of massive crowds.

2. Getting group chat admins to spy on people.

3. Forcing citizens to download apps that allow the government to monitor their cell phone photos and videos.

4. Watching how people shop online.

5. Having law enforcement officers wear special glasses to identify people in crowded places, like streets and train stations.

6. Installing 'robot police' in train stations that scan people's faces and match those of wanted fugitives — like this one in Zhengzhou, central China.

7. Using facial recognition technology to root out jaywalkers.

8. Stopping pedestrians at random to check their phones.

9. Tracking people's social media posts, which can be linked to the user's family and location.

10. Building predictive software to aggregate data about people — without their knowledge — and flag those they consider threatening.

Facial technology and digital data collection is used much more liberally in China than elsewhere in the world. The EU, by comparison, is rolling out new data privacy regulation that would restrict the amount of personal, biometric, and social media data that companies can collect.

Facial technology and digital data collection is used much more liberally in China than elsewhere in the world. The EU, by comparison, is rolling out new data privacy regulation that would restrict the amount of personal, biometric, and social media data that companies can collect.

People in the country are split over how they feel about this modern surveillance state. While some have pointed out the violation of consumers' and citizens' rights, others say they feel safe because of the government's "Big Brother"-esque surveillance.

People in the country are split over how they feel about this modern surveillance state. While some have pointed out the violation of consumers' and citizens' rights, others say they feel safe because of the government's "Big Brother"-esque surveillance.

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