China’s “Golden Shield” surveillance technology in Tibet
We just wrote that China just disclosed photos of its “most wanted” list in Tibet. What we’re seeing is China’s brand-new “Golden Shield” surveillance technology at work.
Golden Shield is “a database-driven remote surveillance system – offering immediate access to records on every citizen in China, while linking to vast networks of cameras designed to increase police efficiency.”
According to the Canadian group Rights and Democracy, Western companies have collaborated with China to implement technologies like:
- speech recognition technology for automated surveillance of telephone conversations;
- the integration of face recognition and voice recognition technology
- smart cards for all citizens which can be scanned without the owner’s knowledge
- closed-circuit television to monitor public spaces
What this means for Tibetans is that they are under more surveillance than ever. Now China can systematically arrest and torture any Tibetans even remotely involved in the pro-independence demonstrations; away from cameras, in the middle of the night, behind prison walls. A truly chilling prospect, brought to you by the Western companies named in the R&D report.
(Below: photos of new surveillance cameras in Lhasa, circa 2007 (circled in red) in 1) Barkhor market, 2) in the square in front of the Potala Palace, and 3) in the square in front of the Jokhang Cathedral. Photo credits: SFT.)
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[...] TECHNO FOR OUR LIFE – Brings Us To The Future wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt We just wrote that China just disclosed photos of its “most wanted” list in Tibet. What we’re seeing is China’s brand-new “Golden Shield” surveillance technology at work. Golden Shield is “a database-driven remote surveillance system – offering immediate access to records on every citizen in China, while linking to vast networks of cameras designed to increase police efficiency.” According to the Canadian group Rights and Democracy, Western companies have collaborated with China to implement [...]
[...] there’s no reason to think such cooperation would ever derive from anything but a benificent desire on the part of the telecos to protect their customers from terrorists: Golden Shield is “a database-driven remote surveillance system – offering immediate access to [...]
[...] Lucent and Cisco, European wireless giants Nokia and Ericsson, and Canada’s Nortel Networks – what do they have in common other than being massive telecoms corps? They’re all making big money from China’s ‘Golden Shield’ Tibet surveillance…. [...]