"Painted on each of the spire's four sides are the benevolent eyes of the Buddha wide, calm, and unblinking said to see all that unfolds below. Those eyes have served as a symbol of sanctuary for generations of Tibetans fleeing the Chinese crackdown in their homeland. But today, Tibetan refugees are also watched by far more malevolent eyes: Thousands of CCTV cameras from China, perched on street corners and rooftops to monitor every movement below."
"Nepal is just one of at least 150 countries to which Chinese companies are supplying surveillance technology, from cameras in Vietnam to censorship firewalls in Pakistan to citywide monitoring systems in Kenya. This technology is now a key part of China's push for global influence, as it provides cash-strapped governments cost-effective, if invasive, forms of policing turning algorithms and data into a force multiplier for control."
Boudhanath's white dome overlooks Kathmandu while Tibetan refugees face pervasive surveillance from thousands of Chinese CCTV cameras perched on streets and rooftops. Chinese companies supply surveillance technology to at least 150 countries, including cameras in Vietnam, censorship firewalls in Pakistan and citywide monitoring systems in Kenya. The exports offer cash-strapped governments cost-effective but invasive policing tools that turn algorithms and data into force multipliers for control. Many exported systems incorporate technology developed in the United States, reflecting decades of U.S.-China tech links in which American firms exchanged technology for market access. U.S. cloud services have aided Chinese firms' overseas expansion.
#chinese-surveillance-exports #digital-authoritarianism #global-surveillance-systems #us-china-tech-ties
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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