China: Blogger reports on surveillance tool that tracked him

A blogger has uncovered a sophisticated Chinese surveillance system specifically targeting foreigners in Zhangjiakou, a city northwest of Beijing that hosted events for the 2022 Winter Olympics. The platform, officially titled the "dynamic control platform for foreign persons," aggregates data from various sources to meticulously track the activities of non-Chinese citizens.

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The official title is: 'dynamic control platform for foreign persons'. The system originates from the prefecture of Zhangjiakou.

Marc Hofer, who runs the NetAskari blog, discovered the system while systematically scanning parts of the internet not indexed by search engines. He observed the software undergoing regular development, with new features appearing over time, including the ability to query and visualize relationships between monitored individuals. This suggests an ongoing effort to refine and expand its capabilities.

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It is a surveillance software with which the movement of foreigners can be tracked based on official data, camera images, and movement information.

The platform integrates information from numerous sources. This includes data from widespread public surveillance cameras equipped with facial recognition technology, as well as individual travel details like hotel stays. The system aims to provide a minute-by-minute account of foreigners' actions in Zhangjiakou, detailing their current locations, destinations, associates, residences, and employers. Even seemingly mundane activities like hospital visits, purchases, or refueling are reportedly captured as data points, painting an exhaustive picture for authorities.

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The goal is apparently to record as precisely as possible what foreigners are doing in Zhangjiakou: where they are currently, where they are going, who they are meeting, where they live, who they work for.

Hofer's findings highlight concerns about pervasive surveillance in China. The system's comprehensive data collection and analysis capabilities paint a picture of extensive monitoring, raising questions about privacy and the extent to which foreigners are under observation while in the country.

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I systematically scan parts of the internet that are not accessible via search engines but are freely accessible via the net.