Dake Kang
@dakekang.bsky.social
中文名：姜大翼｜AP Journalist in Beijing | 美联社北京分社的一位伟大时代的记录者｜你可以用微信联系我（dakekang) 或者电报, Signal, WhatsApp (+1 201 937 9797). 邮箱: [email protected]
3/In past administrations, the U.S. government even actively encouraged and assisted big tech to sell surveillance gear to Chinese police, holding adversary seminars and assisting them in attending trade shows hosted by the Chinese Ministry of Public Security.
October 29, 2025 at 2:33 PM
3/In past administrations, the U.S. government even actively encouraged and assisted big tech to sell surveillance gear to Chinese police, holding adversary seminars and assisting them in attending trade shows hosted by the Chinese Ministry of Public Security.
2/We found tech giants spent hundreds of millions of dollars to lobby Washington on trade with China, opposing measures to curb exports of technology used for surveillance and policing in China despite repeated warnings about the potential for rights abuses
October 29, 2025 at 2:33 PM
2/We found tech giants spent hundreds of millions of dollars to lobby Washington on trade with China, opposing measures to curb exports of technology used for surveillance and policing in China despite repeated warnings about the potential for rights abuses
34/Today, it has become one of the defining characteristics of a new techno-authoritarianism Beijing has pioneered, one that fuses the old-school secret police and paranoia of Leninist-Maoist Communism with cutting edge tech brought by American capitalism.
September 17, 2025 at 10:02 AM
34/Today, it has become one of the defining characteristics of a new techno-authoritarianism Beijing has pioneered, one that fuses the old-school secret police and paranoia of Leninist-Maoist Communism with cutting edge tech brought by American capitalism.
33/Going back to that trip to Kazakhstan in March 2018, I felt as though I had finally solved the mystery of what happened.
“Predictive policing” – a concept born in the West & turbocharged by 9/11 – was brought to China by American firms.
In China, it took on a life of its own.
“Predictive policing” – a concept born in the West & turbocharged by 9/11 – was brought to China by American firms.
In China, it took on a life of its own.
September 17, 2025 at 10:01 AM
33/Going back to that trip to Kazakhstan in March 2018, I felt as though I had finally solved the mystery of what happened.
“Predictive policing” – a concept born in the West & turbocharged by 9/11 – was brought to China by American firms.
In China, it took on a life of its own.
“Predictive policing” – a concept born in the West & turbocharged by 9/11 – was brought to China by American firms.
In China, it took on a life of its own.
32/Xinjiang told us in a 5-page fax such tech is used to “combat terrorist & criminal activity,” that it respects citizens’ privacy and rights & that it does not target ethnicities.
They called the U.S. a “true surveillance state,” citing cameras strung up around New York.
They called the U.S. a “true surveillance state,” citing cameras strung up around New York.
September 17, 2025 at 10:00 AM
32/Xinjiang told us in a 5-page fax such tech is used to “combat terrorist & criminal activity,” that it respects citizens’ privacy and rights & that it does not target ethnicities.
They called the U.S. a “true surveillance state,” citing cameras strung up around New York.
They called the U.S. a “true surveillance state,” citing cameras strung up around New York.
31/By the time authorities launched their mass detention campaign, they had compiled dossiers on huge swaths of Xinjiang’s population. Terror struck the Uyghur community, as vast numbers disappeared into camps with little explanation other than being flagged as “suspicious”.
September 17, 2025 at 9:58 AM
31/By the time authorities launched their mass detention campaign, they had compiled dossiers on huge swaths of Xinjiang’s population. Terror struck the Uyghur community, as vast numbers disappeared into camps with little explanation other than being flagged as “suspicious”.
30/Xinjiang’s cities were strung with thousands of police checkpoints and millions of cameras.
Massive new data centers were built and strung together, allowing police to fuse data and sift through vast amounts of information to find what they considered potential “terrorists”.
Massive new data centers were built and strung together, allowing police to fuse data and sift through vast amounts of information to find what they considered potential “terrorists”.
September 17, 2025 at 9:57 AM
30/Xinjiang’s cities were strung with thousands of police checkpoints and millions of cameras.
Massive new data centers were built and strung together, allowing police to fuse data and sift through vast amounts of information to find what they considered potential “terrorists”.
Massive new data centers were built and strung together, allowing police to fuse data and sift through vast amounts of information to find what they considered potential “terrorists”.
27/When we asked IBM for comment, they said they cut relations with Landasoft in 2014 and barred sales to Xinjiang police in 2015.
Asked about their past sales to Chinese police and the Golden Shield, IBM sent us a letter calling it “old, stale interactions”.
Asked about their past sales to Chinese police and the Golden Shield, IBM sent us a letter calling it “old, stale interactions”.
September 17, 2025 at 9:54 AM
27/When we asked IBM for comment, they said they cut relations with Landasoft in 2014 and barred sales to Xinjiang police in 2015.
Asked about their past sales to Chinese police and the Golden Shield, IBM sent us a letter calling it “old, stale interactions”.
Asked about their past sales to Chinese police and the Golden Shield, IBM sent us a letter calling it “old, stale interactions”.
26/IBM acquired i2 and sold it to Chinese police via Landasoft and other agents. Over the years, Landasoft copied i2 and created their own, Chinese version of i2. They didn’t go far for a name, calling it “iTap”.
Zhou and Landasoft did not respond to requests for comment.
Zhou and Landasoft did not respond to requests for comment.
September 17, 2025 at 9:53 AM
26/IBM acquired i2 and sold it to Chinese police via Landasoft and other agents. Over the years, Landasoft copied i2 and created their own, Chinese version of i2. They didn’t go far for a name, calling it “iTap”.
Zhou and Landasoft did not respond to requests for comment.
Zhou and Landasoft did not respond to requests for comment.
25/In a 2009 pamphlet, IBM cited the Urumqi riots, saying their tech could help “maintain social stability”:
“Via real-time crime monitoring, early warning and detection systems, valuable information can be gleaned... to provide intelligent analysis for public security organs"
“Via real-time crime monitoring, early warning and detection systems, valuable information can be gleaned... to provide intelligent analysis for public security organs"
September 17, 2025 at 9:52 AM
25/In a 2009 pamphlet, IBM cited the Urumqi riots, saying their tech could help “maintain social stability”:
“Via real-time crime monitoring, early warning and detection systems, valuable information can be gleaned... to provide intelligent analysis for public security organs"
“Via real-time crime monitoring, early warning and detection systems, valuable information can be gleaned... to provide intelligent analysis for public security organs"
24/The solution?
The i2 playbook _ fusing data and drawing connections between individuals deemed suspicious.
The i2 playbook _ fusing data and drawing connections between individuals deemed suspicious.
September 17, 2025 at 9:51 AM
24/The solution?
The i2 playbook _ fusing data and drawing connections between individuals deemed suspicious.
The i2 playbook _ fusing data and drawing connections between individuals deemed suspicious.
23/ Authorities didn’t know who to target. Their data was fractured: each department ran their own database with no connection between them. It allowed dissidents to organize opposition to the state.
It was the same issue that plagued American officials in the run up to 9/11.
It was the same issue that plagued American officials in the run up to 9/11.
September 17, 2025 at 9:51 AM
23/ Authorities didn’t know who to target. Their data was fractured: each department ran their own database with no connection between them. It allowed dissidents to organize opposition to the state.
It was the same issue that plagued American officials in the run up to 9/11.
It was the same issue that plagued American officials in the run up to 9/11.
22/Faced with threats to the state, China adopted the American anti-terror playbook.
In secret meetings Chinese officials concluded a key reason for the unrest was their inability to identify Uyghurs they deemed separatists, terrorists, and religious extremists.
In secret meetings Chinese officials concluded a key reason for the unrest was their inability to identify Uyghurs they deemed separatists, terrorists, and religious extremists.
September 17, 2025 at 9:50 AM
22/Faced with threats to the state, China adopted the American anti-terror playbook.
In secret meetings Chinese officials concluded a key reason for the unrest was their inability to identify Uyghurs they deemed separatists, terrorists, and religious extremists.
In secret meetings Chinese officials concluded a key reason for the unrest was their inability to identify Uyghurs they deemed separatists, terrorists, and religious extremists.
20/i2 licensed Zhou to sell in China. In a presentation marketing i2 to Chinese police, Zhou’s firm touted i2’s use by the American military and intelligence agencies, including the FBI, the CIA, and the NSA.
Zhou was soon positioned for the opportunity of a lifetime.
Zhou was soon positioned for the opportunity of a lifetime.
September 17, 2025 at 9:48 AM
20/i2 licensed Zhou to sell in China. In a presentation marketing i2 to Chinese police, Zhou’s firm touted i2’s use by the American military and intelligence agencies, including the FBI, the CIA, and the NSA.
Zhou was soon positioned for the opportunity of a lifetime.
Zhou was soon positioned for the opportunity of a lifetime.
19/Lacking local expertise, U.S. firm often sold their gear through resellers, run by a crop of Chinese entrepreneurs.
Among them was Zhou Qiang. Hired by a British consultancy out of college, Zhou quit in 1998 to start his own company. His niche: policing software, including i2.
Among them was Zhou Qiang. Hired by a British consultancy out of college, Zhou quit in 1998 to start his own company. His niche: policing software, including i2.
September 17, 2025 at 9:46 AM
19/Lacking local expertise, U.S. firm often sold their gear through resellers, run by a crop of Chinese entrepreneurs.
Among them was Zhou Qiang. Hired by a British consultancy out of college, Zhou quit in 1998 to start his own company. His niche: policing software, including i2.
Among them was Zhou Qiang. Hired by a British consultancy out of college, Zhou quit in 1998 to start his own company. His niche: policing software, including i2.
18/ We obtained classified government blueprints for the Golden Shield, Phase II. They show a Chinese defense contractor worked with Cisco, Oracle, Microsoft, and IBM to design and build the Golden Shield – essentially, the foundation for China’s digital surveillance state.
September 17, 2025 at 9:46 AM
18/ We obtained classified government blueprints for the Golden Shield, Phase II. They show a Chinese defense contractor worked with Cisco, Oracle, Microsoft, and IBM to design and build the Golden Shield – essentially, the foundation for China’s digital surveillance state.
17/Back to China.
Beijing was keen for similar tech. In the boom years of the 2000s, Millions were going online, unrest fermented online. Beijing built a massive digital policing system: the “Golden Shield”.
U.S. companies sold billions of dollars of surveillance gear to China.
Beijing was keen for similar tech. In the boom years of the 2000s, Millions were going online, unrest fermented online. Beijing built a massive digital policing system: the “Golden Shield”.
U.S. companies sold billions of dollars of surveillance gear to China.
September 17, 2025 at 9:45 AM
17/Back to China.
Beijing was keen for similar tech. In the boom years of the 2000s, Millions were going online, unrest fermented online. Beijing built a massive digital policing system: the “Golden Shield”.
U.S. companies sold billions of dollars of surveillance gear to China.
Beijing was keen for similar tech. In the boom years of the 2000s, Millions were going online, unrest fermented online. Beijing built a massive digital policing system: the “Golden Shield”.
U.S. companies sold billions of dollars of surveillance gear to China.
15/IBM said at the time that it did not have much info about the operations of IBM’s German subsidiary because “most documents were destroyed or lost during the war” and said that its German operations came under the control of the Nazis. It added it took the allegations seriously.
September 17, 2025 at 9:43 AM
15/IBM said at the time that it did not have much info about the operations of IBM’s German subsidiary because “most documents were destroyed or lost during the war” and said that its German operations came under the control of the Nazis. It added it took the allegations seriously.
14/IBM itself has a history of working with authoritarian regimes.
As documented by journalist and historian Edwin Black in 2001, IBM sold gear to Nazi Germany used to identify and categorize Jews, enabling the Nazis to send them off to concentration camps during the Holocaust.
As documented by journalist and historian Edwin Black in 2001, IBM sold gear to Nazi Germany used to identify and categorize Jews, enabling the Nazis to send them off to concentration camps during the Holocaust.
September 17, 2025 at 9:43 AM
14/IBM itself has a history of working with authoritarian regimes.
As documented by journalist and historian Edwin Black in 2001, IBM sold gear to Nazi Germany used to identify and categorize Jews, enabling the Nazis to send them off to concentration camps during the Holocaust.
As documented by journalist and historian Edwin Black in 2001, IBM sold gear to Nazi Germany used to identify and categorize Jews, enabling the Nazis to send them off to concentration camps during the Holocaust.
12/ After the 9/11 attacks, researcher Valdis Krebs claimed it could have been stopped if American intelligence had connected the dots.
“Why wasn't this attack predicted and prevented?” ...Everyone expects the intelligence community to uncover these covert plots and stop them".
“Why wasn't this attack predicted and prevented?” ...Everyone expects the intelligence community to uncover these covert plots and stop them".
September 17, 2025 at 9:42 AM
12/ After the 9/11 attacks, researcher Valdis Krebs claimed it could have been stopped if American intelligence had connected the dots.
“Why wasn't this attack predicted and prevented?” ...Everyone expects the intelligence community to uncover these covert plots and stop them".
“Why wasn't this attack predicted and prevented?” ...Everyone expects the intelligence community to uncover these covert plots and stop them".
11/i2 is a pioneering police analysis software invented by British mathematicians in the 1990s that claimed to be able to detect “terrorism”.
It came in reaction to the Troubles in Northern Ireland, where the IRA set off bombs against the British in bloody sectarian violence.
It came in reaction to the Troubles in Northern Ireland, where the IRA set off bombs against the British in bloody sectarian violence.
September 17, 2025 at 9:41 AM
11/i2 is a pioneering police analysis software invented by British mathematicians in the 1990s that claimed to be able to detect “terrorism”.
It came in reaction to the Troubles in Northern Ireland, where the IRA set off bombs against the British in bloody sectarian violence.
It came in reaction to the Troubles in Northern Ireland, where the IRA set off bombs against the British in bloody sectarian violence.
10/Looking at corporate reports, I made some major discoveries. Landasoft, the Chinese firm behind Xinjiang’s automated policing platform, had been an IBM agent, selling its i2 police analysis software for years in China that they claimed could prevent terror attacks.
September 17, 2025 at 9:39 AM
10/Looking at corporate reports, I made some major discoveries. Landasoft, the Chinese firm behind Xinjiang’s automated policing platform, had been an IBM agent, selling its i2 police analysis software for years in China that they claimed could prevent terror attacks.
9/Mystery solved. But where did all come from?
I spotted signs of American firms everywhere in the emails. Oracle. Microsoft. Amazon Web Services. And… IBM.
IBM?
I spotted signs of American firms everywhere in the emails. Oracle. Microsoft. Amazon Web Services. And… IBM.
IBM?
September 17, 2025 at 9:39 AM
9/Mystery solved. But where did all come from?
I spotted signs of American firms everywhere in the emails. Oracle. Microsoft. Amazon Web Services. And… IBM.
IBM?
I spotted signs of American firms everywhere in the emails. Oracle. Microsoft. Amazon Web Services. And… IBM.
IBM?
7/Digging through the Landasoft emails, we found detailed workings of how this system worked. Points. Tags. Things like “long beards” or “abnormal power or water usage” could get you flagged. So could sharing a hotel room, train, or flight with someone deemed suspicious.
September 17, 2025 at 9:39 AM
7/Digging through the Landasoft emails, we found detailed workings of how this system worked. Points. Tags. Things like “long beards” or “abnormal power or water usage” could get you flagged. So could sharing a hotel room, train, or flight with someone deemed suspicious.
5/We heard bizarre stories of how they were grabbed by police and grilled on nonsensical issues.
Tearful relatives told us siblings were detained for sending money for a down payment for a house. Or for taking a call from parents abroad. Or for taking a certain flight.
Tearful relatives told us siblings were detained for sending money for a down payment for a house. Or for taking a call from parents abroad. Or for taking a certain flight.
September 17, 2025 at 9:39 AM
5/We heard bizarre stories of how they were grabbed by police and grilled on nonsensical issues.
Tearful relatives told us siblings were detained for sending money for a down payment for a house. Or for taking a call from parents abroad. Or for taking a certain flight.
Tearful relatives told us siblings were detained for sending money for a down payment for a house. Or for taking a call from parents abroad. Or for taking a certain flight.