Global concerns mount over China’s expansive surveillance and censorship

China's extensive surveillance and censorship have raised global concerns, with the government's tight control over the internet, media, and public discourse often seen as a breach of freedom of speech. The Great Firewall of China restricts access to global platforms, limiting information flow.

Coupled with widespread surveillance cameras and facial recognition technology, this creates an environment of constant monitoring. Many argue these measures suppress dissent and inhibit individual freedoms, causing distress among the populace. The international community continues to urge China to respect human rights and freedom of expression.

China's digital authoritarianism, powered by its expansive tech industry and colossal infrastructure projects, is being exported globally. Neighboring countries like Cambodia, Malaysia, and Vietnam are adopting this model, as warned by a human rights watchdog.

In 2015, China initiated its "Digital Silk Road" project, a few years after launching its ambitious Belt and Road Initiative. The project aimed to broaden the reach of digital infrastructure, including submarine cables, satellites, and 5G connectivity.

However, Article 19, a human rights organization based in the UK, contends that the project's objectives extend beyond enhancing WiFi access or e-commerce. The Digital Silk Road aims to alter standards and internet governance norms, shifting from a free, open internet to a fragmented digital ecosystem built on censorship and surveillance.

The comprehensive 80-page report details the deep-seated connection between the Chinese state and its tech industry, a significant contributor to the Digital Silk Road project. Private companies like Huawei, ZTE, and Alibaba are portrayed as "proxies" for the Communist Party.

China has inked numerous technical standard agreements with 49 nations part of the Belt and Road Initiative. Additionally, countries like Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, and Thailand have agreed to additional dialogues with Beijing concerning digital infrastructure.

The Asia-Pacific region holds strategic importance for China, introducing next-generation technologies and seeking global allies to standardize its authoritarian approach to internet governance. According to Article 19, countries like Cambodia have emulated China's digital governance. Since 2021, Cambodia has been striving to establish a "National Internet Gateway," mirroring China's "Great Firewall," restricting access to Western media outlets, Wikipedia, and social media platforms like Facebook and X.

The project has faced criticism. The Cambodian government asserts it will strengthen national security and combat tax fraud. However, the Internet Society warned in December that the repercussions on Cambodian network connections could be far-reaching, potentially impacting social and economic life and threatening free expression.

Article 19 notes that Nepal and Thailand have shown interest in constructing a firewall akin to China's and have participated in the surveillance of Tibetan and Uighur ethnic minorities overseas on Beijing's behalf.

Under President Xi Jinping's leadership, the distinction between the Communist Party and the Chinese state has blurred significantly. The Party has deeply penetrated the private sector, establishing cells in over 90 percent of China's top 500 companies. These corporations, including tech giants, have been conscripted into Beijing's "united front" influence campaign, aiming to enhance China's international image and broaden its global influence.

Concerns about data privacy and potential manipulation campaigns have driven a push in the United States to ban TikTok, a popular video app owned by China. Advocates of the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act contend the app could allow the Chinese government to access user data and sway Americans.

Security concerns have also impacted companies like Huawei and ZTE, not just in the US but in other democratic nations, including Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, and the UK. In the US, these two companies have been labelled as "national security threats" and banned from building crucial infrastructure.

Outside China, the close relationship between the government and tech firms has sparked concerns about how Chinese tech companies will manage issues like data privacy or censorship overseas. These companies, which operate undersea cables, control a significant portion of the world's internet traffic. Article 19 expressed concerns that China might share this data with friendly authoritarian regimes or use it to exert influence. Without increased transparency and supervision, these worries cannot be dismissed.

China's Digital Silk Road, under the guise of enhancing digital infrastructure, is reshaping global internet governance norms towards a fragmented ecosystem built on censorship and surveillance. This model, adopted by countries like Cambodia, Malaysia, and Vietnam, threatens free expression and privacy. The deep-seated connection between the Chinese state and its tech industry raises concerns about data privacy and censorship overseas. Without increased transparency and supervision, these concerns cannot be dismissed. China’s digital authoritarianism is indeed a global concern.