Massive Leak Of Chinese VMS Provider Exposes Xinjiang Surveillance

By: 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.

* ********** ** *****’* claimed ******* *** ******** is ******** *** ******* location *** ********* ** millions ** *****’* ******** region, ********* ** * massive **** ****.

*** **** ***************************, ** ***** **** due ** ******** ************* ********** *** ******* **********’******* ******************* *********** ******* ** *** Muslim ****** ******** ** Xinjiang.

xianjiang leak2

** **** ****, ** examine *** *** **** happened, ***** ***** ************ companies *** ********, *** other *******, *********:

**** ********
***** ** **** *********
********** *******
********* ************
******* **********
*****'* **********
*********/***** ***********
*************, ****** ********
******

*******, *** **** ****** significant ******* *** ***** rights ******** ***** *** video ************ **** ** processed ** *****, * country ***** ***** *** dominate **** ** *** video ************ ********.

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

What ********

*** ********** *** ******* by ***** ************* ********** Victor ****** [**** ** longer *********] ** ****** ********* *********:

****** **** ** *** gained ************ ****** ** the ******** ** *********, a ********-***** *******, ******* an **********************. *** ******** *** "fully ********** ** ******" from **** **** ***** he ******** *********,****** **** **** **** agency ***, *******:

*** *** ******* *** they **** ********** ** clue ***** ******* ********

****** ** *** ******** was ****** ***** ****** contacted *********, ******* ********** ********* ** *** ******* informing ********* ***** *** to *** ***** ****** concerns ***** *** **** it *********.

“Muslim *******” *******

****** ******* ******** ********* *** personal **** ** **** 2.5 ******* ******, ********* passport ******, *******, ***, birthday, *** ******** *******. The ******* ****** ********'* ****** *********** and '******** ************ *******', which**** ********* ******* ****** ** checkpoints *** *** ****** areas. ****** ******* *** system *** *********** * "Muslim *******":

Ethnicity ********

**** ****** ** *** database ************** ** ***** *********. ***** **% **** members ** *****’* ****** Han ********, **% **** Uyghur, *** *** **** were ******* ** ***** typically ****** **********, **** as ******* *** *** people.

****: *** ********* ******** is **** ****** **** Chinese ********** *******, *** video ******** / **, though **** *************, *.*.,*********, **** **** ******* / ********* '********' *********.

Location ********

****** ** *** ******** were**** ******* ** ********, ******* ***** **** had ****** **** *** facial *********** ******* **** the **** ** *****.

**** *** ** **** period**** *.* ******* *********** were ******, ********* ** ****** like************ ******** *********** *** known ** **** ********* extensive ****** *********** *******. (See********* **** ******* ********** Forced ****** *********** ****** 967 *******.)

SenseNets *******

*********, ** 深网视界 ** Chinese, ******* “*******-**** **** learning **********” ** ***** surveillance *******, “********** ** the ****** ******** *****,”********* ** ** ******** page ** *** *******. (********** ********** **** *** ****** China's ********.)

************ ******* **** ********* *********** ******** *** “over **%” ********, **** hits ******* ** ***** matched ** “***** *** white *****” ** ********/*********** in **** ****.

** ***** **** ********* released ********* *********** ***** ******* ******* ****** ******** and ******** * ******* in * *** ******* thanks ** ****** *********** including ******** *** **** of *** *******'* ****:

b0621i9jipb.m701 Video

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

********* ********** ** ****** * ******* ***** 51% ** ******* *** provider********** **% ***********, * ****-***** ******* facial *********** ******* ********** ******** “*** *****’* **** highly ****** ** *******” (it *** ****** ** $*.* *********** ****.)

*******, ***************** *** ******* ********* ** **** 2018, ******* **** **% of *** ******* ***** by *******. **** *** noted ** ******* ***** in ***** ******** ** the ********* ****, ****** "********* ******** *******" ******** **** *** incident. ** ********** ** ******* *****, ********* ********* ****** from *********, *******:

*** *********** ******* ********* and ********* ** ****** to ******* ********** ********* support *** **** ** their ********, *** **** not ******* ****** ***********. *** product ******* ** *** data **** *** *** provided ** *********… ********* itself **** *** **** customer ****… ********* *** also ******* **** ******** measures **** ** **** anonymization *** **** **********.

****************, ******* ****** *********'* 'high ************' ****** ****, as * '**** ******* enterprise', **** ********* ******** now, ** * *** 2018 ******** *&* [**** no ****** *********]:

******* *** ********* **** certain *********** ** ***** concept ** **********. ********* has **** ************ *** technology ********** *** ******** depth. ** * **** economy **********, ******* ******* product ******* *** ************. The ****** **** *** on *** ***** ** friendly ************, [*******] **** still ********* **** ********* in ***** ******* ** the ******.

** **********, *********'* '**** requirements' ***** ** **** Netposa's ******* ****.

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

********* *****’* ******* *** provider *** *** ***** largest *** ******** ** the *****,********* ** *** *******, ****** ***. *** flagship *** ** ****** “PVG” ** ***** ***** Gateway [**** ** ****** available].

******* ***** **** ** its ******** **** ********* VMS ******** ** ******* police. ** * *&* session **** ********* ** 2018 [**** ** ****** available], ******* ******:

*** **** ******** ** the ******* ** ****** focused ** ****** ******** customers.

** *** **** *&*, NetPosa **** *** *** was **** ** ***** 3.5 ******* ******* **** by ******* ***********. ** contrast, **** *** ***** seen ******* **** ****** itself ** ***** *******.

******* ****** $*** ******* (*.** ******* ***) ** 2017*** $*** ******* (*.** billion ***) ** *** first ***** [**** ** longer *********]********** ****. ** ** highly **********, **** ** 2017 ****** ****** ** ~23%. *** ******* *** not *** ******** *** 2018 ****** *******.

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

**** ***** ** ******** disclosed ******** ********* ******* SenseNets ** ******* ** Xinjiang. *******, **** ******* exist, ** ********* ** the ********* ****.

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

********** *** ********* **** won **** $* ******* projects ** ********, ** ***** ** evidence ** ******* / Sensenets ******* **** ***** or ********* ** ********. We ****** ** ******* since *********** ***** ***** projects *** ************ ******** or ******* **** *** Chinese ********.

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

******* *** ********* *** companies ******, *******, ********** them ** * ********* 2018 ******** *&* [**** no ****** *********] **** as *************** ********* ** the *** *****:

*********, *****, *** ***** manufacturers *** ******** ****** have ********* ******** ***** business ** *** ****** and **** *** ** recent *****. *******, *******, as * ******** ******** focusing ** ***** ******** management *********, *** **** doing **** [*** *********] since *** *********… *** company *** * **** project ************** ******* *** customer ****, *** ** familiar **** *** ******** needs ** ******** *****

Intel **********

** ****, *****'* [**** no ****** *********] ********** arm ***** ******* ******** in *******.***** *******'* ****** ********* lits ********* ***** **** ** its *********, ** *** excerpt ***** *****:

**** ***** ****** ***** to **** ****. ******* there *** ***** *** US ********* ** *** supply ********** ** **** applications. ***** ** ******** is ****** ** ***** even **** **********.

******: *****, ** ** email, ****** ** "***** divested" **** ******* ** 2016.

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

******** ******* **** ** **********, *** ** ********** are *******. ** ** best ***** *** ******* out **** ****** ** manufacturer ******* ** ****, something ***** ******* **** NetPosa **** ******** **** $200 ******* ** ******* (see****** ******* ***** ***********).

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

*** ********* **** ****** up **** *************, *******, and ****** ********.

*** **** **** ******* was **** ** ****** the ********* ******** ** easily ** * **** violation ** ***** ************* and ******* **********. *** researcher *** ******** *** database **** ****** ** could **** ******* ** destroyed *** ** *** data“**** *** *******”.

** ***** ** ******, the **** **** ********** authorities **** ********** **** on *******’ ********* *** location – **** ******* mosque ********** – ** a **** ******* ******. Going ** *** ****** ‘too *****’ ************ *** ** *** reasons******* **** **** ** China’s******* ******* ** “**-*********” camps ** ********.

*** ********* ******** **** brings ** *** ********* concerns **** *********’ ******* is **** ** *** Integrated ***** ********** ********, a ******** ********** ************ system ********** ****** ***** ****** **** ** **** troublesome ********** *** ********* in *** *****.

******

*** ********* **** ********* in ************* ****** *** invasiveness ** ******** ************ state *** *** *** Chinese ********** *** ********* video ************/****** *********** ** achieve ****.

** *** ****, ******* it ************** ********, **** **** ********** remains * **** ********* for ***********. *******, ** China,* ***-***** ************* *****, **** ****** *** simply ***********. ***** ** a *********** ************ **** for *** ***** ************ industry ** *** ******* state ***** ******* ****** Xinjiang *** *****.

**** ******* *** ** SenseNets *** ******* *** comment *** *** *** receive * *****, ** will ****** ** ** do.

Comments (23)

Undisclosed #1

02/20/19 06:31pm

* **** ** ******* with ** *** *** achieving *** ******* ** track ***** ****** ********. If **** ****** **** the ****** *** **** back ** **** ** educate *** *** ******** perspectives, ******* *** ******* thinkers ** *** ****. Evolution ** ** ********. You *** *** ** hang **** **** **** field *** ********** **** truck *** **** **** only **** ** ****.

*************** *****, ****** *** leading ** **** *** future.

Undisclosed #2

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

"*** *** *** ** hang **** **** **** field *** ********** **** truck"

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

**** ****** *** ****** in ********** ********* (****** China) *** ****** ** hold ** ** ** basic ***** ******* ** individuals.

John Honovich

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

*****: * *** ******* undisclosed ** ****** ** a ******* **** **** from ** ************* ********** torturing *** *** ******** in ************* *****.

Undisclosed #1

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

*************** #* ****, **** to ** ** **********. You *** *** ******** undisclosed ** ***** ** china *** *** **** to ****** ****.***, ** those **** *** ******* any *********** ***********, ****** and ******* ********* ** the ************* ********** *** so ******* *** **** that **** *** ** China **** ********* ************* camps ** *******.

****, * **** *** like *********** *** **** times *** **** ** put **** **** ***** Bong ****!

***** *********** *** *** the *****!, **** ** what * **** ***** IPVM. ****** *** *** freedom **.

John Honovich

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

*** *** *** ******** undisclosed ** ***** ** china *** *** **** to ****** ****.***, ** those **** *** ******* any *********** ***********, ****** and ******* ********* ** the ************* **********

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

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

***, ** * ***** of * ****, ***** in ***** *** ****** blocked ***** **** *** BBC, ***, *** **** if **** **** ** authorized *** *** ****'* another *****...

Undisclosed Manufacturer #3

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

** ** ** ***** do *** **** ** running **** * ****, why ***** ** ********* it ? ***** **** not ** ******* * centralised ******** *** ********** control ?

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

Undisclosed #1

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

******* * ****** ********* analysis ** ****** ** survey ****** ********** * single/sole ****** ********. **** can ** ******** ** AI ******** ************** ********* agreeing ** * **** negotiated ************* ********** ****** mode ***********. *** ***** Spy **. ***** *** binary ******.

******, *** * ** now ********* ** ** 3rd ***** *** ***** so * *** ** longer **** ******** **** strap ******** ** * brewery ******.

***'* ****** **** ********, once * ** **** in *** ***+ ** state ** ****. trolls>.

****~!

****: * ** ** going ** *** **** Asian ****** *******, ****** IPVM.

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

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

Undisclosed Distributor #4

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

******* *** ******* ******** on *** *****, ***** are ******* **** **** this *********** *** ** used *** ******* ******** and **** *********** ***'* even **** *** **** of **********

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

Undisclosed #1

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

*** ***** ***** **(******** computable). ******* *** *** trust *** **** *****-**** policy ** ***** ******** argumentative ************ ********* ******** makers **** **** *** exploits ** ***** ****** circa ****.

* ***** ****** ******** non **** ************ *********** with ** ** ********* as * ********* ********* to **** ** *** out ** *** ****** "we ***** ******" ********.

**** ****** ** **** without ** **-***** *********** review. **** **** ******* the **** **** *****.

Undisclosed #2

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

*** ***** **** ****** ** ***** ******* ***** of **********... ******* **** *** *** they ****** **** ****.

***, ****** ************************* *** ***** **** to ******* ******* ******* - ********* *** ********* (unchecked) ** *** *** school *****-**** **********.

****** *** '****' **** better ***** **** ***** to ********* ***** ************ schemes.

** **** ** ***** times ******.

Undisclosed #6

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

*************** *****, ****** *** leading ** **** *** future.

* **** **** *** future, **’* *** ******

Hal Bennick

Trafficware, a CUBIC Company | In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 02/21/19 03:34pm

********* ** ********, *** chaos ****** *******. *** are ****** *** ********** that *** ******** ******* is ********. *** *** want ** **** ** on *** **** ** Rome, *** ************ ** the ****, *** *** result.

Gary Gibson

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

**** **** **** ****. Western ********* ***** ** be ******* *** ******* ** socialism ***** ****.

Undisclosed #2

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

"******* ********* ***** ** be ******* *** ******* of ********* ***** ****."

***** * ***** **** this ********* (*** **** a ******** **** * am ******* ****** ** sending *** ** ******* in * *** *****) - * ***** **** what *** ***** ** is ******** **** * symptom ** *** ****** problem ******* **** ** the **/** ***** ** our ******* ******** *********** platforms:

********.

**** ***** ******* **** '******* **** ***** **** they **** ******* *** morally ******** *****' **** ****** **** upon ** ***** **** now.

**** **** ** ****** on *** ****** ** the '******* *******' - which, ** ******, ****** for ** ****** ****** with *** '***** ****'.

*** ***'* **** ***** with *****.... *******, ***** must ** *********.

***** *** ********* ***** we **** ** ** friends.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #3

02/21/19 01:23am

*********** *******, *** **** informative.

********* ******** ** ******* do *******, *** * would *** **** ** breathe.

***** *********** ***** *******, was ********* ******** *** of****** ** ********.

* ***** **** * hard **** ********* **** they *** ***** ********** that ** ** ****************. Plus, *** ***** ****'* show *** **** **** cameras ** *** **** the ******** ****.

John Honovich

IPVM | 02/21/19 02:24am

******: ******* ***** ** Intel

Intel **********

******, *****'*********** *** ***** ******* invested ** *******.***** *******'* ****** ********* lits ********* ***** **** ** its *********, ** *** excerpt ***** *****:

**** ***** ****** ***** to **** ****. ******* there *** ***** *** US ********* ** *** supply ********** ** **** applications. ***** ** ******** is ****** ** ***** even **** **********.

Undisclosed Integrator #5

02/21/19 08:53am

** *** **** ** not ****, ** ****** be ****, ****** ** manipulated!

***** **** **** **** big ****-***** ******* ***** implemented ****** *********** ****** in *** **. (**** as ******* *** *** Police). ****** **** **** an ******* *******...

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

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

Undisclosed Manufacturer #3

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #5 | 02/21/19 10:40pm

*******.

David Soltesz

IPVMU Certified | 02/21/19 01:32pm

* ***** *** *** posts **** **** ****** the ********* ***** ** the *********** ***** *****.

*** *** ** *** run *** **** **** **********. ****** * ******** being **** ** ***** them ** *** ***** might *** ** * bad ****.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #7

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

* ******* *** ***** they ******* *** *** was ****** * *****.

Charles Rollet

02/23/19 03:13am

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

Undisclosed Manufacturer #3

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

**** *** ** ****, but ** ***** ** if **** ** **** as ** ** **** they **** ***** ******* with *** *******, ** at ***** **** ***** has **** *********/******* ********* to **** *** ***** NetPosa *******.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #8

02/26/19 02:37am

***** **** ******** ******** in ***** ** *** particularly **** *********.

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

** ** *** ****** how **** ***** "*******" are **** ** *** eyes ** ********.

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