Beijing, April 6 (). According to a report, a system of identity control is growing rapidly in China’s capital Beijing. Big data and facial recognition technology are being used to monitor the movement of people in public places, so that people can be monitored.
According to a report by ‘The Epoch Times’, a Chinese tourist took to social media to say that he had to go through security six times and have his national ID card scanned 15 times during his recent five-day trip to Beijing.
“Basically, wherever you go, you have to scan your ID. There are ID checkpoints at tourist spots, metro stations and many public places. Your journey is disrupted again and again,” the tourist said in a video shared on social media platform WeChat.
The Epoch Times report further said, “Her experience offers a glimpse of Beijing’s rapidly expanding system of identity control. A system that combines big data and facial recognition technology to monitor the movement of people in the city’s public spaces.”
“Multiple petitioners, rights activists and other individuals told The Epoch Times that the system reflects a broader trend of data-driven social control, raising concerns about privacy and civil liberties in China. They spoke to the report on condition of anonymity or published only their surnames,” the report said.
Security checks and ID verification have become almost mandatory for people in Beijing. Bag checks are carried out regularly at metro stations, while many places require ID scans which are directly linked to personal data systems. This system may be even more restrictive for certain groups.
Speaking to ‘The Epoch Times’, a woman surnamed Li, who has repeatedly visited Beijing, said checks had increased.
According to the report, the petition is an administrative process that hears the grievances of the people. However, human rights groups say that authorities often reject petitions and often harass those who are not satisfied with the regime’s dictatorial rule.
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AY/ABM