China’s Global Influence on Surveillance Policing

The first time I learned about China’s extensive use of surveillance cameras to monitor its citizens, aligning them with political and social criteria set by the Communist Party, it was reminiscent of the dystopian novel ‘1984’ and the concept of Big Brother.

Over time, China has evolved into the leading superpower in surveillance technology, significantly enhanced by artificial intelligence. This has transformed traditional Mao-era policing into a sophisticated, global export. According to reports by journalists David Pierson and Berry Wang, this model is now reaching authoritarian states and fragile democracies worldwide.

An example of this can be seen in a village in the Solomon Islands. Residents faced disturbances caused by young men under the influence of substances like betel nut and homemade alcohol. In response, Chinese officers, operating under a security agreement with the Solomon Islands, suggested a contentious solution: collecting fingerprints and palm prints, along with detailed personal information of each household member. This method mirrors a Mao-era community surveillance strategy, recently revitalized by President Xi Jinping, which promotes citizens spying on each other to identify political dissenters.