Massive Leak Of Chinese VMS Provider Exposes Xinjiang Surveillance

Author: Charles Rollet, Published on Feb 20, 2019

A subsidiary of China’s claimed largest VMS provider is tracking the precise location and ethnicity of millions in China’s Xinjiang region, according to a massive data leak.

The news made headlines around the world, in large part due to a growing international outcry over the Chinese government’s strict surveillance and mass detention of members of the Muslim Uyghur minority in Xinjiang.

xianjiang leak2

In this note, we examine how the leak happened, which video surveillance companies are involved, and other factors, including:

  • What Happened
  • Types of Data Collected
  • Subsidiary Details
  • SenseTime relationship
  • NetPosa Background
  • Intel's Investment
  • Hikvision/Dahua Competition
  • Cybersecurity, Ethics Concerns
  • Impact

Overall, the leak raises significant privacy and human rights concerns about how video surveillance data is processed in China, a country whose firms now dominate much of the video surveillance industry.

* ********** ** *****’* ******* ******* *** ******** ** ******** the ******* ******** *** ********* ** ******** ** *****’* ******** region, ********* ** * ******* **** ****.

*** **** ***************************, ** ***** **** *** ** ******** ************* ********** *** ******* **********’******* ******************* *********** ******* ** *** ****** ****** ******** ** ********.

xianjiang leak2

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*******, *** **** ****** *********** ******* *** ***** ****** ******** about *** ***** ************ **** ** ********* ** *****, * country ***** ***** *** ******** **** ** *** ***** ************ industry.

[***************]

What ********

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*** *** ******* *** **** **** ********** ** **** ***** network ********

****** ** *** ******** *** ****** ***** ****** ********* *********, however ********** ********* ** *** ******* ********* ********* ***** *** ** *** human ****** ******** ***** *** **** ** *********.

“Muslim *******” *******

****** ******* ******** ********* *** ******** **** ** **** *.* ******* people, ********* ******** ******, *******, ***, ********, *** ******** *******. The ******* ****** ********'* ****** *********** *** '******** ************ *******', ********* ********* ******* ****** ** *********** *** *** ****** *****. ****** tweeted *** ****** *** *********** * "****** *******":

Ethnicity ********

**** ****** ** *** ******** ************** ** ***** *********. ***** **% **** ******* ** *****’* ****** *** ********, 28% **** ******, *** *** **** **** ******* ** ***** typically ****** **********, **** ** ******* *** *** ******.

****: *** ********* ******** ** **** ****** **** ******* ********** records, *** ***** ******** / **, ****** **** *************, *.*.,*********, **** **** ******* / ********* '********' *********.

Location ********

****** ** *** ******** ******** ******* ** ********, ******* ***** **** *** ****** **** *** ****** *********** cameras **** *** **** ** *****.

**** *** ** **** ********** *.* ******* *********** **** ******, ********* ** ****** **************** ******** *********** *** ***** ** **** ********* ********* ****** recognition *******. (************ **** ******* ********** ****** ****** *********** ****** *** *******.)

SenseNets *******

*********, ** 深网视界 ** *******, ******* “*******-**** **** ******** **********” to ***** ************ *******, “********** ** *** ****** ******** *****,”********* ** ** ******** **** ** *** *******. (********** ********** **** *** ****** *****'* ********.)

************ ******* **** ********* *********** ******** *** “**** **%” ********, **** **** ******* of ***** ******* ** “***** *** ***** *****” ** ********/*********** in **** ****.

** ***** **** ********* ******** ********* *********** ************ ******* ****** ******** *** ******** * ******* ** * few ******* ****** ** ****** *********** ********* ******** *** **** of *** *******'* ****:

SenseTime ***********

********* ********** ** ****** * ******* ***** **% ** ******* *** ****************** **% ***********, * ****-***** ******* ****** *********** ******* ********** ******** “*** *****’* **** ****** ****** ** *******” (** ********* ** $*.* *********** ****.)

*******, ***************** *** ******* ********* ** **** ****, ******* **** **% ** *** company ***** ** *******. **** *** ***** ** ******* ***** in ***** ******** ** *** ********* ****, ****** "********* ******** *******" ******** **** *** ********. ** ********** ** ******* *****, ********* ********* ****** **** *********, *******:

*** *********** ******* ********* *** ********* ** ****** ** ******* underlying ********* ******* *** **** ** ***** ********, *** **** not ******* ****** ***********. *** ******* ******* ** *** **** leak *** *** ******** ** *********… ********* ****** **** *** hold ******** ****… ********* *** **** ******* **** ******** ******** such ** **** ************* *** **** **********.

****************, ******* ****** *********'* '**** ************' ****** ****, ** * 'real ******* **********', **** ********* ******** ***, *** *** **** ******** *&*:

******* *** ********* **** ******* *********** ** ***** ******* ** operations. ********* *** **** ************ *** ********** ********** *** ******** depth. ** * **** ******* **********, ******* ******* ******* ******* and ************. *** ****** **** *** ** *** ***** ** friendly ************, [*******] **** ***** ********* **** ********* ** ***** aspects ** *** ******.

** **********, *********'* '**** ************' ***** ** **** *******'* ******* leak.

SenseNets ****** ******* **********

********* *****’* ******* *** ******** *** *** ***** ******* *** provider ** *** *****,********* ** *** *******, ****** ***. *** ******** *** ** ******“***” ** ***** ***** *******.

******* ***** **** ** *** ******** **** ********* *** ******** to ******* ******. ** * *&* *********** ********* ** ****, ******* ******:

*** **** ******** ** *** ******* ** ****** ******* ** public ******** *********.

** *** **** *&*, ******* **** *** *** *** **** in ***** *.* ******* ******* **** ** ******* ***********. ** contrast, **** *** ***** **** ******* **** ****** ****** ** North *******.

******* ****** $*** ******* (*.** ******* ***) ** ******* $*** ******* (*.** ******* ***) ** ******** *************** ****. ** ** ****** **********, **** ** **** ****** margin ** ~**%. *** ******* *** *** *** ******** *** 2018 ****** *******.

No ****** ******** *********

**** ***** ** ******** ********* ******** ********* ******* ********* ** NetPosa ** ********. *******, **** ******* *****, ** ********* ** the ********* ****.

Hikvision, ***** ** *********** *****

********** *** ********* **** *** **** $* ******* ******** ** Xinjiang, ** ***** ** ******** ** ******* / ********* ******* with ***** ** ********* ** ********. ** ****** ** ******* since *********** ***** ***** ******** *** ************ ******** ** ******* from *** ******* ********.

Dismiss ***** *** *********

******* *** ********* *** ********* ******, *******,********** **** ** * ********* **** ******** *&***** ** *************** ********* ** *** *** *****:

*********, *****, *** ***** ************* *** ******** ****** **** ********* extended ***** ******** ** *** ****** *** **** *** ** recent *****. *******, *******, ** * ******** ******** ******** ** video ******** ********** *********, *** **** ***** **** [*** *********] since *** *********… *** ******* *** * **** ******* ************** history *** ******** ****, *** ** ******** **** *** ******** needs ** ******** *****

Intel **********

******, *****'*********** *** ***** ******* ******** ** *******.***** *******'* ****** ********* **** ********* ***** **** ** *** *********, ** *** ******* ***** shows:

**** ***** ****** ***** ** **** ****. ******* ***** *** calls *** ** ********* ** *** ****** ********** ** **** applications. ***** ** ******** ** ****** ** ***** **** **** objections.

******: *****, ** ** *****, ****** ** "***** ********" **** NetPosa ** ****.

NetPosa ****** ******* ***

******** ******* **** ** **********, *** ** ********** *** *******. ** ** **** ***** for ******* *** **** ****** ** ************ ******* ** ****, something ***** ******* **** ******* **** ******** **** $*** ******* in ******* (********* ******* ***** ***********).

Cybersecurity, ****** ******** ******

*** ********* **** ****** ** **** *************, *******, *** ****** concerns.

*** **** **** ******* *** **** ** ****** *** ********* database ** ****** ** * **** ********* ** ***** ************* and ******* **********. *** ********** *** ******** *** ******** **** stated ** ***** **** ******* ** ********* *** ** *** data“**** *** *******”.

** ***** ** ******, *** **** **** ********** *********** **** collecting **** ** *******’ ********* *** ******** – **** ******* mosque ********** – ** * **** ******* ******. ***** ** the ****** ‘*** *****’ ************ *** ** *** ************** **** **** ** *****’******** ******* ** “**-*********” ***** ** ********.

*** ********* ******** **** ****** ** *** ********* ******** **** SenseNets’ ******* ** **** ** *** ********** ***** ********** ********, a ******** ********** ************ ****** ********** ****** ***** ****** **** ** **** *********** ********** *** ********* ** *** camps.

******

*** ********* **** ********* ** ************* ****** *** ************ ** Xinjiang ************ ***** *** *** *** ******* ********** *** ********* video ************/****** *********** ** ******* ****.

** *** ****, ******* ** ************** ********, **** **** ********** ******* * **** ********* *** ***********. However, ** *****,* ***-***** ************* *****, **** ****** *** ****** ***********. ***** ** * *********** reputational **** *** *** ***** ************ ******** ** *** ******* state ***** ******* ****** ******** *** *****.

**** ******* *** ** ********* *** ******* *** ******* *** did *** ******* * *****, ** **** ****** ** ** do.

Comments (23)

Undisclosed #1

02/20/19 06:31pm

* **** ** ******* **** ** *** *** ********* *** ability ** ***** ***** ****** ********. ** **** ****** **** the ****** *** **** **** ** **** ** ******* *** the ******** ************, ******* *** ******* ******** ** *** ****. Evolution ** ** ********. *** *** *** ** **** **** your **** ***** *** ********** **** ***** *** **** **** only **** ** ****.

*************** *****, ****** *** ******* ** **** *** ******.

Undisclosed #2

In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 02/20/19 08:35pm

"*** *** *** ** **** **** **** **** ***** *** carbureted **** *****"

**** ** ************* *****.

**** ****** *** ****** ** ********** ********* (****** *****) *** trying ** **** ** ** ** ***** ***** ******* ** individuals.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 02/20/19 08:56pm

*****: * *** ******* *********** ** ****** ** * ******* data **** **** ** ************* ********** ********* *** *** ******** in ************* *****.

Undisclosed #1

In reply to John Honovich | 02/20/19 09:33pm

*************** #* ****, **** ** ** ** **********. *** *** are ******** *********** ** ***** ** ***** *** *** **** to ****** ****.***, ** ***** **** *** ******* *** *********** uninhibited, ****** *** ******* ********* ** *** ************* ********** *** so ******* *** **** **** **** *** ** ***** **** outsource ************* ***** ** *******.

****, * **** *** **** *********** *** **** ***** *** need ** *** **** **** ***** **** ****!

***** *********** *** *** *** *****!, **** ** **** * like ***** ****. ****** *** *** ******* **.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 02/20/19 09:35pm

*** *** *** ******** *********** ** ***** ** ***** *** not **** ** ****** ****.***, ** ***** **** *** ******* any *********** ***********, ****** *** ******* ********* ** *** ************* government

*** *** * ********!

*******:******* ********** ****** ****

***, ** * ***** ** * ****, ***** ** ***** can ****** ******* ***** **** *** ***, ***, *** **** if **** **** ** ********** *** *** ****'* ******* *****...

Undisclosed Manufacturer #3

In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 02/21/19 02:30am

** ** ** ***** ** *** **** ** ******* **** a ****, *** ***** ** ********* ** ? ***** **** not ** ******* * *********** ******** *** ********** ******* ?

*** ********, ********* *******.

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #3 | 02/21/19 03:42am

******* * ****** ********* ******** ** ****** ** ****** ****** comparison * ******/**** ****** ********. **** *** ** ******** ** AI ******** ************** ********* ******** ** * **** ********** ************* structural ****** **** ***********. *** ***** *** **. ***** *** binary ******.

******, *** * ** *** ********* ** ** *** ***** the ***** ** * *** ** ****** **** ******** **** strap ******** ** * ******* ******.

***'* ****** **** ********, **** * ** **** ** *** 220+ ** ***** ** ****. .

****~!

****: * ** ** ***** ** *** **** ***** ****** tonight, ****** ****.

***:*****://***.****.***/***/***-****-******-*****-*******

….******* ****** **** *********** ********** **** ***/*.

Undisclosed Distributor #4

In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 02/21/19 03:26am

******* *** ******* ******** ** *** *****, ***** *** ******* ways **** **** *********** *** ** **** *** ******* ******** and **** *********** ***'* **** **** *** **** ** **********

*****://**.*********.***/****/*****

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Undisclosed Distributor #4 | 02/21/19 03:59am

*** ***** ***** **(******** **********). ******* *** *** ***** *** next *****-**** ****** ** ***** ******** ************* ************ ********* ******** makers **** **** *** ******** ** ***** ****** ***** ****.

* ***** ****** ******** *** **** ************ *********** **** ** AI ********* ** * ********* ********* ** **** ** *** out ** *** ****** "** ***** ******" ********.

**** ****** ** **** ******* ** **-***** *********** ******. **** only ******* *** **** **** *****.

Undisclosed #2

In reply to Undisclosed Distributor #4 | 02/21/19 04:01am

*** ***** ************ ***** ******* ***** ** **********...******* **** *** *** **** ****** **** ****.

***, ****** ************************* *** ***** **** ** ******* ******* ******* - ********* the ********* (*********) ** *** *** ****** *****-**** **********.

****** *** '****' **** ****** ***** **** ***** ** ********* their ************ *******.

** **** ** ***** ***** ******.

Undisclosed #6

In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 02/21/19 10:49am

*************** *****, ****** *** ******* ** **** *** ******.

* **** **** *** ******, **’* *** ******

Avatar

Hal Bennick

In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 02/21/19 03:34pm

********* ** ********, *** ***** ****** *******. *** *** ****** the ********** **** *** ******** ******* ** ********. *** *** want ** **** ** ** *** **** ** ****, *** contributors ** *** ****, *** *** ******.

Gary Gibson

In reply to Hal Bennick | 02/22/19 07:51pm

**** **** **** ****. ******* ********* ***** ** ** ******* the ******* ** ********* ***** ****.

Undisclosed #2

In reply to Gary Gibson | 02/22/19 08:10pm

"******* ********* ***** ** ** ******* *** ******* ** ********* these ****."

***** * ***** **** **** ********* (*** **** * ******** that * ** ******* ****** ** ******* *** ** ******* in * *** *****) - * ***** **** **** *** speak ** ** ******** **** * ******* ** *** ****** problem ******* **** ** *** **/** ***** ** *** ******* societal *********** *********:

********.

**** ***** ******* **** '******* **** ***** **** **** **** ******* *** ******* ******** group' **** ****** **** **** ** ***** **** ***.

**** **** ** ****** ** *** ****** ** *** '******* correct' - *****, ** ******, ****** *** ** ****** ****** with *** '***** ****'.

*** ***'* **** ***** **** *****.... *******, ***** **** ** destroyed.

***** *** ********* ***** ** **** ** ** *******.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #3

02/21/19 01:23am

*********** *******, *** **** ***********.

********* ******** ** ******* ** *******, *** * ***** *** hold ** *******.

***** *********** ***** *******, *** ********* ******** *** ******** ** ********.

* ***** **** * **** **** ********* **** **** *** using ********** **** ** ** ****************. ****, *** ***** ****'* show *** **** **** ******* ** *** **** *** ******** room.

John Honovich

IPVM | 02/21/19 02:24am

******: ******* ***** ** *****

Intel **********

******, *****'*********** *** ***** ******* ******** ** *******.***** *******'* ****** ********* **** ********* ***** **** ** *** *********, ** *** ******* ***** shows:

**** ***** ****** ***** ** **** ****. ******* ***** *** calls *** ** ********* ** *** ****** ********** ** **** applications. ***** ** ******** ** ****** ** ***** **** **** objections.

Undisclosed Integrator #5

02/21/19 08:53am

** *** **** ** *** ****, ** ****** ** ****, abused ** ***********!

***** **** **** **** *** ****-***** ******* ***** *********** ****** recognition ****** ** *** **. (**** ** ******* *** *** Police). ****** **** **** ** ******* *******...

*** ******** *******...

**** ********* ***** ********

Undisclosed Manufacturer #3

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #5 | 02/22/19 12:40am

*******.

Avatar

David Soltesz

02/21/19 01:32pm

* ***** *** *** ***** **** **** ****** *** ********* point ** *** *********** ***** *****.

*** *** ** *** *** *** **** **** **********. ****** * ******** ***** **** ** ***** **** ** all ***** ***** *** ** * *** ****.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #7

In reply to David Soltesz | 02/21/19 03:19pm

* ******* *** ***** **** ******* *** *** *** ****** a *****.

Avatar

Charles Rollet

02/23/19 03:13am

******, ** ** *****, ***** ****** **** ** "***** ********" from ******* ** ****.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #3

In reply to Charles Rollet | 02/24/19 10:19pm

**** *** ** ****, *** ** ***** ** ** **** as **** ** ** ** **** **** **** ***** ******* with *** *******, ** ** ***** **** ***** *** **** supplying/selling ********* ** **** *** ***** ******* *******.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #8

02/26/19 02:37am

***** **** ******** ******** ** ***** ** *** ************ **** conceived.

*****://*************.***/****/**/*******-*******-********.****

** ** *** ****** *** **** ***** "*******" *** **** to *** **** ** ********.

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