China To Deploy World's Largest People Tracking Network 368
hackingbear writes "News.com reports that China is building the largest and most sophisticated people-tracking network in the world, all to track citizens in the city of Shenzhen. This network utilizes 20,000 intelligent digital cameras and RFID cards to keep track of the 12.4 million people living in the Southern port city. The key to the system is the new residency cards fitted with powerful computer chips. 'Data on the chip will include not just the citizen's name and address but also work history, educational background, religion, ethnicity, police record, medical insurance status and landlord's phone number. Even personal reproductive history will be included, for enforcement of China's controversial "one child" policy. Plans are being studied to add credit histories, subway travel payments and small purchases charged to the card.' While I lived in Shenzhen, there indeed were (and still are) plenty of crimes. One of my friend who lived at the 20th floor of a condo building in a nice neighborhood saw an intruder in the middle of one night while he was sleeping. Still, this will clearly raise the fear of human rights abuses. And ... 'one of the most startling aspects of this plan is that this project is mostly made possible by an American company with solid venture fundings.'"
Go China! (Score:1, Interesting)
Re:This is why I am scared (Score:5, Interesting)
Do you really think people who say that would change their minds as long as the government could cite some perceived improvements in security as justification for the extra surveillence? I honestly don't think they would. *THAT'S* what's scary.
made possible by an american company??? (Score:2, Interesting)
god i'm sick of this bullshit. seriously, stop trying to blame the white man for EVERYTHING. this whole scheme is made possible by communist control freaks in china. they would make this happen with or without this company.
i mean come on, now it's america's fault when china does fucked up things? i'm not even american and even i'm sick of the retarded american bashing.
Re:Catch 22? (Score:5, Interesting)
I think surveillance creates a sense of false security for many less-informed people. So they demand more surveillance. The government is only happy to provide it. So are the companies contracted to implement the necessary technology. That is why the use of surveillance is increasing - even though there is clear proof it does not prevent crime (or terrorism for that matter!).
I think the "Dispair inc" poster with the group or parachuters says it all: "Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups". We did. Cameras on every corner and multiple RFIDs on every citizen appears to be the result.
- Jesper
Why go through all that trouble? (Score:4, Interesting)
Store it on the SIM card of the citizens cellphone and remove the OFF switch from the phone (force companies to only manufacture/import cellphones without OFF switches). Make the phone send an SMS to the nearest police station with the text "ARREST ME PLS" if the users neglects to charge it.
In that way, the existing cellphone network can be extended to tracking all citizens 24/7 using their SIM and EMEI id's (no need for upgrades anywhere except logfile data storage), no matter where they go. It even works without setting up new RFID scanners and without buying fancy new tech from contracting companies.
How many places do you think such a system is already in place? Do you always carry your cellphone with your without thinking about it? Do you ever turn it off?
(Hint: several hundred western cities in both the US and EU have near-similar systems for "polulation movement research" which they claim only saves anonymous data. Yeah right!)
- Jesper
Re:This is why I am scared (Score:3, Interesting)
Well, here is a bit of news for you: It is not about freedom. The US administration does not care to establish freedom somewere else, it is too busy removing it at home. And it is also not about terrorism, but about creating the impression to be doing something about it. The only thing the war on terror dod was to ensure a fresh supply of terrorists for the forseeable future. Call me cynic, but I believe this was exactly as planned. It is well known that terror cannot be fought with force, unless you are willing and able to commit genocide...
Re:but the american company isn't the point (Score:3, Interesting)
I'm not criticising the US in any way, nor does the article. Should China be held accountable for the oppression of its people? By all means yes. It is a terrible tragedy what is happening to political and religious dissidents in that country, and as a Chinese I feel a great deal of empathy towards the people who endure that regime (which, thankfully, I'm out of).
So while criticism of China's policies should rightfully be directed at China, companies from any other country complicit in the government's crimes should also be held accountable for their actions. We need to send the message to corporations everywhere (USA or otherwise) that participating actively in an oppressive, totalitarian regime is unacceptable, and will result in real consequences from those countries that actually care about human rights.
If someone would compile a list of these companies, I will gladly stop using their products in boycott, but as this article reveals, some of these culprits are not who we would expect normally.
This has nothing to do with America, this has everything to do with businessmen who legimitize the oppression of 1.3 billion people to make a quick buck. They disgust me, and IMHO they should be punished for such an inhuman lack of morality.
Re:Go China! (Score:3, Interesting)
They will have to have some really cutting-edge data mining stuff to get this to work well as a subversive citizen finder... it would be fascinating if it weren't so chilling.
Still, I bet that it ultimately just gets used to undermine people who've made an enemy within the political organization that have access to this information.
Re:How far are WE from this really? (Score:3, Interesting)
Consider jumping to this post:
Re:Why go through all that trouble? [slashdot.org].
There is a good explanation there
- Jesper
Re:RFID cards? (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:This is why I am scared (Score:2, Interesting)
A most unfortunate thing is that in many cultures, the value of human life IS linked to the laws of supply and demand.
"It will never happen here..." said the skeptic... (Score:3, Interesting)
And what if this works? What if no "Beast" arises from the sea? What if this is really a good idea and they benefit and no evil Neo-Mao rises to enslave them? THEN what is to stop it from happening here? Anybody??? If "U.S. companies like IBM, Cisco, H.P., Dell**" are in on this, what is to stop it from happening "here"?
*He didn't realize the pun he unleashed here
**Say, we're missing a OS company in this list. Any volunteers?