China Undercover
April 07, 2020NARRATOR:
While in Xinjiang, Li is introduced to a security official in the government. He secretly films the conversation.
We’re concealing the official’s identity. He’s surprisingly candid.
MALE COMMUNIST PARTY OFFICIAL:
[Speaking Mandarin] Uyghurs have to pass their phones to the police immediately. The police use a wire to connect your phone to a machine that reads everything on it. Many Uyghurs have been detained as a result.
The authorities say it’s a special situation here. What is happening is excessive and too extreme. The police summon Uyghurs on the street. If they refuse to be checked, they’ll be detained. They just lock them up. There is no procedure.
LI:
[Speaking Mandarin] Do you think Uyghurs feel their human rights have been violated?
MALE COMMUNIST PARTY OFFICIAL:
[Laughs] [Speaking Mandarin] They don’t have human rights. It’s not about violating, they just don’t have human rights.
NARRATOR:
It’s rare for anyone from these companies to speak openly about their work, but one insider agreed to talk to us about the surveillance technology he helped develop. He has since left China and spoke on the condition we conceal his identity and not disclose where he currently lives.
MALE CHINESE TECH INSIDER:
[Speaking Mandarin] Uyghurs are not considered human by the Chinese government. They’re like mice being experimented on for research purposes.
NARRATOR:
He says his work in Xinjiang revealed to him to the ways the government gathers data on the Uyghur population.
MALE CHINESE TECH INSIDER:
[Speaking Mandarin] First, there are cameras installed in front of their homes. Before going to a shopping center, even before entering their own district, they must swipe their ID cards.
Xinjiang is currently the most tightly controlled region in the world. The Chinese government is creating a surveillance regime against the Uyghur people.
NARRATOR:
Our colleague Li manages to get a meeting with Leon executives, saying he’s interested in possible business with them.
MALE LEON EXECUTIVE:
[Speaking Mandarin] Our security work in Xinjiang is the most important priority in the whole country. We provide facial recognition technology and structuring.
You can see there are cameras on every single street. Everywhere is covered by cameras.
When you see a camera, you might think it’s just a camera, but what you won’t know, as you walk past, is that it records all your information and analyzes it, including your facial expressions and behavior.
NARRATOR:
The engineer who helped develop Xinjiang’s mass surveillance system explained how these companies’ technology works.
MALE CHINESE TECH INSIDER:
[Speaking Mandarin] The distinct facial structure of Uyghurs was entered into the data bank, so just the faces of Uyghurs are being targeted for analysis. Based on the analysis, the computer categorizes a person as normal, of concern or dangerous.
The facial recognition system analyzes facial expressions. It checks to see if you’re nervous. If you run past, you’ll be regarded as dangerous. The security services will arrest the person and send them to a re-education camp or detention facility.
NARRATOR:
The Leon executives tell Li about even more sophisticated technology their company has helped the government implement.
MALE LEON EXECUTIVE:
[Speaking Mandarin] Xinjiang’s security industry uses technical solutions which are more sophisticated than those used elsewhere in China and the rest of the world. This includes research and development and experimenting with technologies.
LI:
[Speaking Mandarin] How are these security and prevention measures implemented?
MALE LEON EXECUTIVE:
[Speaking Mandarin] It’s not convenient for me to say more, as it is considered to be a state secret.
MALE CHINESE TECH INSIDER:
[Speaking Mandarin] It’s a computer system which is like a reservoir. All the data flows into it.
MALE CHINESE TECH INSIDER:
[Speaking Mandarin] All information sent from phones, photos taken, phone calls made and locations, together with Uyghurs’ data, is collected on the Integrated Joint Operations Platform and analyzed by the system.
Anyone deemed suspicious is detained.
MALE CHINESE TECH INSIDER:
[Speaking Mandarin] Any tools used to crack down on people were first used in Xinjiang and tested on the Uyghurs, perfecting the technology, before being exported. The Chinese promote the products by highlighting how advanced the technology is for controlling people.
NARRATOR:
Many Uyghurs’ houses are also individually marked with digital barcodes. Li films them.