#SocialCreditSystem #MassSurveillance #HealthCode
#JoshuaWong: Health Code is an eHandcuff, a path to CCP's Social Credit System

Recently in Hong Kong, pro-China newspapers and Beijing royalists have been ferociously pushing for the implementation of Health Code in eateries and shopping centers. They even blustered of taking on the same system straightly from Mainland China.

Pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong criticized on his Facebook that Health Code is effectively no difference than an "eHandCuff". He called it a means for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to tighten their grip on Hong Kong, and pave way for Social Credit System and masd surveillance.

Wong pointed out that there is no scientific evidence showing Health Code is useful in epidemic prevention, as health experts reiterated.

Given that coronavirus has an incubation period, negative test result at one point of time does not mean that there is no risk of infection in the future. That is to say, implementing health code, could actually deceive citizens to believing that they are safe to commute, which inadvertently, would speed up the spread of Coronavirus.

Wong further elaborated that Health Code was implemented in China as an integral element to #NationalSurveillance. A source, claiming responsible for data management of Health Code in Hang Zhou said, “once the health code is activated, its database will start running, examining and analyzing across all available data-sets relevant to the user, including location data on Alipay and the shop the user frequented.”

In Wong’s opinion, Health Code is just a step away from a big data enabled “point-to-point” or “people-to-people” surveillance system, not only monitoring citizen’s daily routine, but also confining their mobility by restricting how they travel and where to go. The real function of Health Code is like an electronic handcuff.

Source: Stand News #Aug18 #FailedState #CCP #HangZhou

#Sanction #InternationalCommunity
HK Pro-democracy Activists urge #GermanParliament to Sanction Hong Kong and Chinese Officials

A pro-democracy activist from Hong Kong, #GlacierKwong, and a German student who studied in Hong Kong, #DavidMissal, led a petition in September 2020, calling on Germany to sanction Hong Kong officials over the national security law passed by Beijing in June 2020.

As the online petition reached the required 50,000 signatures, a parliamentary hearing was scheduled on January 25, 2021.

At the hearing, Kwong urged Germany to put in place “a real and robust policy on China” and “implement targeted sanction against individuals in Hong Kong and China… to hold China accountable and honour Germany’s commitment to democratic values.”

Kwong elaborated that under the National Security Law, initiating a petition or a signature campaign, attending a hearing overseas could be deemed “colluding with foreign forces” and therefore violation of the Law.

“Drastically, the national security law erodes the crumbling pillars of the city’s rule of law and democracy,” Kwong said in her opening speech. “Hongkongers now live in a quasi-police state and mass surveillance. The vaguely-termed law overrides the Basic Law and the Common Law system.”

She also cited prevailing oppressions in Hong Kong such like mass arrests, city-wide surveillance as pro-establishment legislators proposed installation of surveillance camera in classrooms to monitor teachers' speech and freezing of dissident bank accounts and blocking of websites.

Source: Stand News, #Jan26

#MassSurveillance #PoliceState #Authoritarianism #NationalSecurityLaw
#OnlinePetition #Germany

#BigData #MassSurveillance
China’s Gene Company Shares Genetic Data Obtained Around the World with Military

A Reuters’ investigative report found that the China-based gene company #BGI group has been collecting #GeneticData from over 8 million pregnant women for sweeping research on the traits of populations via selling prenatal tests around the world.

The research was said to be developed in collaboration with the Chinese military.

These genetic data were amassed without names, but contsined infornation of nationality, height, and weight. Such prenatal tests were also available in Hong Kong.

BGI is one of the Hong Kong Government appointed institutions for COVID-19 tests in Hong Kong. In recent years, BGI has been trying to mark its reputation by selling and donating millions of COVID-19 detection tools around the world.The U.S. security services warned that it is a well-established means for the company to collect worldwide genetic data.

Reuters report pointed out that BGI’s prenatal test, No Invasive prenatal gene testing for Fetal Chromosomal Abnormalities (NIFTY) is a source of genetic data for the company. These data were collected in 52 countries around the world among 8 million pregnant women.

Source: Stand News; #Jul8

https://www.thestandnews.com/society/%E8%B7%AF%E9%80%8F%E4%B8%AD%E5%9C%8B%E8%8F%AF%E5%A4%A7%E5%9F%BA%E5%9B%A0%E5%85%A8%E7%90%83%E6%94%B6%E9%80%BE-800-%E8%90%AC%E5%A5%B3%E6%80%A7%E6%95%B8%E6%93%9A-%E8%88%87%E8%A7%A3%E6%94%BE%E8%BB%8D%E5%85%B1%E4%BA%AB%E5%81%9A%E7%A0%94%E7%A9%B6

#MassSurveillance
Government Makes #LeaveHomeSafe app Compulsory in Hong Kong Starting from Nov 1; Police Makes Arrests

The Hong Kong SAR Government implemented yet another controversial rule on November 1, 2021, mandating the population to check in with the LeaveHomeSafe tracking app when entering government premises. These locales include libraries, wet markets, courts, and sports facilities.

On the first day of its implementation, the Hong Kong Police arrested at least 5 people in the morning at Immigration Tower in Wan Chai, accusing them of using a fake app.

RTHK reported that the arrestees included two immigration officers, one staff member of the Audit Commission and two contractors.

Although exemptions are given to children, the elderly and disabled people, they are still required to submit their personal details.

Civil Service Secretary #PatrickNip claimed the government will "exercise flexibility"; however, according to InMedia, outside the Tai Po Municipal Complex, many domestic helpers and elderly had difficulties in adapting to the policy. Some had to download the app on the site, while some left for the street market instead.

As the people of Hong Kong expressed concern over the privacy issue of the government-monitored app, many citizens bought a new phone just for installing the app and to prevent personal information from being tracked.

Source: InMedia; RTHK #Nov1
https://bit.ly/3EsNyAq

#FailedState #BigData #Privacy #Obstruction #Elderly #Regime

#MassSurveillance #CCP
Security scanners across Europe tied to China govt, military

//At some of the world’s most sensitive spots, authorities have installed security screening devices made by a single Chinese company with deep ties to China’s military and the highest levels of the ruling Communist Party.

The World Economic Forum in Davos. Europe’s largest ports. Airports from Amsterdam to Athens. NATO’s borders with Russia. All depend on equipment manufactured by Nuctech, which has quickly become the world’s leading company, by revenue, for cargo and vehicle scanners.

Nuctech’s critics allege the Chinese government has effectively subsidized the company so it can undercut competitors and give Beijing potential sway over critical infrastructure in the West as China seeks to establish itself as a global technology superpower.

“The data being processed by these devices is very sensitive. It’s personal data, military data, cargo data. It might be trade secrets at stake. You want to make sure it’s in right hands,” said Bart Groothuis, director of cybersecurity at the Dutch Ministry of Defense before becoming a member of the European Parliament. “You’re dependent on a foreign actor which is a geopolitical adversary and strategic rival.”//

Read the full article:
https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-china-russia-europe-120b7dedacd8d545bf4521a1948bc31e

Source: Associated Press #Jan20

#SecurityBreach #Scanner #Europe #MadeinChina

#China uses #coronavirus warning app to stifle #dissent

//China's #COVID19 warning app enables health authorities to move quickly against a virus outbreak. But it seems officials also use the app to stop perfectly healthy people from doing what Beijing doesn't want them to do. And the target is dissidents.//

Watch the video:
https://www.dw.com/en/china-uses-coronavirus-warning-app-to-stifle-dissent/av-62501253

Source: DW #Jul17

#HealthCode #MassSurveillance #Beijing #Authoritarianism

#MassSurveillance
#TikTok Browser Can Track Users’ Keystrokes, According to New Research

// The web browser used within the TikTok app can track every keystroke made by its users, according to new research that is surfacing as the Chinese-owned video app grapples with U.S. lawmakers’ concerns over its data practices.

The research from Felix Krause, a privacy researcher and former Google engineer, did not show how TikTok used the capability, which is embedded within the in-app browser that pops up when someone clicks an outside link. But Mr. Krause said the development was concerning because it showed TikTok had built in functionality to track users’ online habits if it chose to do so.

Collecting information on what people type on their phones while visiting outside websites, which can reveal credit card numbers and passwords, is often a feature of malware and other hacking tools. While major technology companies might use such trackers as they test new software, it is not common for them to release a major commercial app with the feature, whether or not it is enabled, researchers said. //

Read more:
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/19/technology/tiktok-browser-tracking.html

Source: New York Times #Aug19

#BigBrother #CreditCard #Privacy