China to deploy largest people tracking network->
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hackingbear
hackingbear writes "News.com reports that China is building the world's largest and most sophisticated network to track people in the city of Shenzhen. This network utilizes intelligent digital cameras and RFID cards.
But the most startling aspect is that this project is mostly made possible by an American company with solid venture fundings.
Link to Original Source
At least 20,000 police surveillance cameras are being installed along streets here in southern China and will soon be guided by sophisticated computer software.
Starting this month in a port neighborhood and then spreading across Shenzhen, a city of 12.4 million people, residency cards fitted with powerful computer chips programmed by the same company will be issued to most citizens.
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 old fear of human rights abuse. "They could also help the Communist Party retain power by maintaining tight controls on an increasingly prosperous population at a time when street protests are becoming more common."
Starting this month in a port neighborhood and then spreading across Shenzhen, a city of 12.4 million people, residency cards fitted with powerful computer chips programmed by the same company will be issued to most citizens.
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.
But the most startling aspect is that this project is mostly made possible by an American company with solid venture fundings.
"Incorporated in Florida, China Public Security has raised much of the money to develop its technology from two investment funds in Plano, Tex., Pinnacle Fund and Pinnacle China Fund. Three investment banks — Roth Capital Partners in Newport Beach, Calif.; Oppenheimer & Company in New York; and First Asia Finance Group of Hong Kong — helped raise the money."
Maybe they can use Shenzhen as beta site before they get a project to deploy the same things in New York or Chicago."Link to Original Source
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China to deploy largest people tracking network