A database used to monitor foreigners has been discovered in China — The New York Times
Cybersecurity researcher Mark Hofer discovered a publicly accessible Chinese police platform that contained the personal data of nearly 12,000 foreigners. The system, called the “Dynamic Monitoring Platform for Foreign Personnel,” was used to monitor foreigners in the city of Zhangjiakou.
The database stored passport information, details on movements and travel, as well as CCTV footage. Among those whose data was entered into the system were foreign nationals, journalists, residents of Hong Kong and Taiwan, as well as people whom Chinese authorities had classified as belonging to specific risk categories.
Hofer reported that he found his own profile in the database, complete with a photograph taken by Chinese immigration authorities, as well as his passport number and cell phone number. In addition, he discovered a log of system accesses that included police units from Zhangjiakou and other cities.
According to the NYT, the platform collected a much broader range of information than standard immigration records. Specifically, it contained details on marital status, place of residence, occupation, air and rail travel, hospital visits, fuel purchases, as well as movements recorded by video surveillance and facial recognition systems.
The publication links the platform to the Beijing-based company Origin Dynamic, which supplies robotics and surveillance systems to the police. However, neither the company nor the Zhangjiakou Public Security Bureau responded to journalists’ inquiries.
Human Rights Watch stated that this case demonstrates the extent of personal data integration in China and the lack of adequate oversight over law enforcement agencies’ use of such systems.
This was reported by The New York Times.
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