RFA reported that China has expanded its Internet surveillance technology overseas. Zhongkedianji Beijing Technology (http://www.zkdj.com), a big data firm in Beijing disclosed that a software it developed called “junquanyuqun” (http://junquan.com.cn) is capable of detecting more than 8,000 “sensitive” websites in Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan. In addition, it has established 18,000 information outlets in China which can monitor news, forums, blogs, microblogs, pictures, and videos. It can even collect information in 53 languages including English, French, Spanish, and the languages of ethnic minorities in China. According to the company’s website, the surveillance system can carry out public opinion analyses, information warnings, and hot spot analyses. It can collect negative public opinion, public opinion trends, briefings, analyses, forwarded information, and do statistical analyses for the government. It can monitor news, forums, blogs, Weibo, pictures, videos, QQ groups and it has search and documentation capabilities. According to YicaiGlobal.com, Zhongkedianji Beijing Technology was founded in 2007. Its customers include a wide range of industries such as state-owned enterprises, governments, military organizations, and private companies. Recently, in November 2017, it secured US$15.15 million in financing. The company is worth US$150 million.
The RFA article also reported that, during the recent 2018 Procuratorial Technologies and Equipment Exhibit held on May 15 in Beijing, a scanner that Beijing HiSign Technology Company developed could recover Facebook and Twitter messages that had been deleted from a mobile phone. Meiya Pico from Xiamen City claimed that their handheld scanner could break into a mobile phone within seconds to retrieve customer data. The RFA article reported that, because of the latest technological developments, overseas Chinese have become very concerned that they could be subjected to retaliation if they publish any opinions that criticize the Chinese government.
Sources:
1. Radio Free Asia, June 28, 2018
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/meiti/ql2-06282018100614.html
2. Yicai Global.com, November 24, 2017
https://www.yicaiglobal.com/news/big-data-firm-zhongkedianji-bags-usd15-million-round-financing-valued-usd150-million