Excerpted from France 24:
Sharon Hom is the Director of the NGO Human Rights in China, (HRIC). She works in particular on surveillance systems in Beijing.
"We have never heard of this particular misuse of surveillance cameras by the police (to "get an eyeful" of other people). We already know that China is using a very sophisticated video surveillance system; according to official sources, there are 300,000 cameras alone in the capital. These cameras have been placed everywhere - in the subway, the squares, and of course, at the Olympic venues. The most disquieting fact is that these cameras are digital and that they have been devised in such a way as to incorporate biometric technology (starting with facial-recognition software). For example, if a political dissident in Beijing travels to Chengdu, the police could probably track his/her arrival at the station thanks to the camera system and the biometric software."
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For more information on this issue:
- HRIC Press Statement:
"Tiananmen Mothers" Website Blocked in China - China Rights Forum No. 1, 2008:
Selling Security Systems to China: Risky Business - Scott Greathead discusses risk management and the sale of sophisticated "crime control" equipment and technology. - China Rights Forum No. 1, 2008:
A History of the "Yahoo! Incident" - Hu Kunming provides a case overview and raises questions about the risks facing foreign companies in complying with demands of the Chinese government. - HRIC Press Advisory:
HRIC Launches 2008 Take Action Website and Calls on China to Release Shi Tao - China Rights Forum No. 4, 2007:
The Real Situation in Pre-Olympics China - Teng Biao and Hu Jia give their views about the situation on the ground in the countdown to the Olympics. - China Rights Forum No. 2, 2006:
A Conversation with Citizen Lab - Sharon Hom interviews Ron Deibert and Nart Villeneuve on their work battling Internet censorship. - China Rights Forum No. 2, 2006:
The Hijacked Potential of China’s Internet - He Qinglian details the ways in which government controls have forced China to miss out on the full benefits of the Internet revolution.