Source: www.ChinaAid.org
Date: November 10, 2020
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| Surveillance cameras subject to flaws, yet still flood China. (Photo: Flickr) |
(ChinaAid Association—Nov. 10, 2020) China’s intrusive monitoring system, which has adopted some of the most advanced surveillance technologies in the world and regularly annexes new capabilities, frightens some. Nevertheless, according to Dr. Eugene Bach, a writer for Back to Jerusalem,* the system contains major flaws. He explains that:
- the system does not and cannot catch every bit of data.
- the system is not completely integrated.
- at times, the machinery does not fully function as it should.
- many facial-recognition cameras that have been installed no longer work.
Due to these flaws leading to digital IDs, social ratings, and facial-recognition cameras failing to perform as anticipated during the past year, China has again resorted to increasing police raids and gulags,** particularly for those the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) targets for persecution. Dr. Bach said that through the Back to Jerusalem team’s assignment, closely monitoring the covert camera situation, CCP authorities caught him and others in China’s surveillance trap. Officers arrested them and confiscated their data. Ultimately, however, their team learned China’s major weakness—integration.
Due to the hundreds of thousands of facial-recognition cameras, covid-19 tracking apps, and surveillance apps on phones, China’s data collection has grown to gargantuan levels. As some people employing these technologies do not know how to use various features, the CCP does not benefit from many potential capabilities. Dr. Bach points out that China’s digital army of tens of thousands manning the new databases of hidden information, “are normal, everyday people. They are not engineers from MIT. They are limited in their understanding and simply want to make a paycheck. They get tired. They get bored. They get complacent. They get lazy.” The bottom line, those operating the surveillance systems are human. In addition to China’s current deluge of data, the systems bring in more data every minute. Someone has to watch and note the videos. Someone has to listen to and transcribe the audio (in different languages) and accurately sort it. Some text may be simple while others may include code, emojis, shorthand, and slang. Knowing that the “all-seeing-eye” of China does not clearly see all and even misses some things offers a bit of comfort regarding China's invasive monitoring system. This window of weakness, however, may not last long. For now, as long as flaws in the CCP’s monitoring system exist, Chinese Christians may live and minister in these God-given “free,” blind spots.
* pursues the goal of the Chinese church to evangelize unreached peoples from eastern provinces of
China, westwards towards Jerusalem
** forced labor camps
China Aid exposes abuses in order to stand in solidarity with the persecuted and promote religious freedom, human rights, and rule of law. If you wish to partner with us in helping those persecuted by the Chinese government, please click the button below to make a charitable donation.
