IPVM Testifies at Uyghur Tribunal

Published Sep 14, 2021 14:08 PM
PUBLIC - This article does not require an IPVM subscription. Feel free to share.

IPVM provided expert testimony to the Uyghur Tribunal in London on September 12, outlining how PRC China authorities use various surveillance tools to oppress and control the ethnic minority group in China. The video clip below shows the introduction:

Conor Healy, IPVM's government director, provided an expert report and testimony to the panel, discussing the role of video surveillance in oppressing the PRC's Uyghur population. Healy also testified about how new technology such as "emotion detection" cameras and devices like smart Tiger Chairs are developed and used by the PRC to persecute Uyghurs and other minorities.

The Uygur Tribunal questioned IPVM for ~50 minutes after IPVM's 10-minute presentation ended, as this clip shows:

The entire 1-hour IPVM testimony and questioning by the Tribunal may be watched below:

Background

IPVM Image

The Uyghur Tribunal is an independent, UK-based body chaired by a British attorney Geoffrey Nice, who served as the lead prosecutor in the 2002-2006 war crimes trial of Slobodon Milosevic. The goal of the panel is to "reach an impartial and considered judgment on whether international crimes are proved to have been committed by the PRC".

The tribunal also includes prominent international human rights attorneys such as Hamid Sabi. As counsel to the Iran Tribunal, Sabi investigated mass killings of political prisoners by the Islamic Republic of Iran in the 1980s.

Testimony

The tribunal has featured eyewitness testimony from ethnic Uyghurs and Kazakhs previously detained in 'reeducation camps' in Xinjiang, former PRC policeman Wang Leizhan, and former British diplomat and China expert Charles Parton.

China experts, such as Professor James Millward, Professor John Packer, Dr. Darren Byler, Dr. Rian Thum, Dr. David Tobin, Dr. Adrianok Zenz, and Jessica Batke, provided testimony. Like IPVM, this testimony centered on an ongoing pattern of human rights abuses against minority groups in Xinjiang.

Outcome

As the Tribunal explains itself, it aims to reach a judgment on whether the PRC has committed international crimes as the PRC objects to the International Court of Justice's jurisdiction:

If it were realistically possible to bring the PRC to any formal international court – in particular to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) – there would be no need for the establishment of a people’s tribunal.

There is no such possibility not least because China/the PRC, although a signatory to and ratifier of the Genocide Convention, has entered a reservation against ICJ jurisdiction. There is no known route to any other court that can deal with the issues before the tribunal.

The Uyghur Tribunal, which has no powers of sanction or enforcement, will confine itself to reviewing evidence in order to reach an impartial and considered judgment on whether international crimes are proved to have been committed by the PRC.

It will be for States, international institutions, commercial companies, art, medical and educational establishments and individuals to determine how to apply the Tribunal’s Judgment, whatever it may be, in their dealings with the PRC. This could include, but is not limited to, trade and other sanctions including against individuals, proscribing the sale of technologies, surveillance and medical equipment and the declaration of ineligibility for visas

The panel is currently holding its second set of hearings, following proceedings in June, and is expected to issue its judgment in December 2021.

IPVM shall continue to report on the progress and judgment of the Uyghur Tribunal.

Comments (30)
Avatar
Clint Hays
Sep 14, 2021

Great job Conor. I hope that having these types of interactions with governments can help educate the masses on how technology is wrapped around their daily lives and how data can be used against them.

(7)
Avatar
Sergio Guzman
Sep 14, 2021
Pine Crest School • IPVMU Certified

I am so proud to be a member of this community.

(2)
(2)
(1)
U
Undisclosed #1
Sep 14, 2021
IPVMU Certified

C. Healy shows his diplomatic talent in exchange at 49:42:

IPVM Image

“Do you think they would ever be able to detect your actual DNA?”

IPVM Image

“Using a camera ?!?” (Out of courtesy pretends to consider for a moment) “I don’t see how”… :)

(3)
(11)
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #2
Sep 14, 2021

That takes a VERY special lens

It can detect coronavirus too

(1)
(1)
(3)
Avatar
Clint Hays
Sep 14, 2021

I think that's why he knocked over the water just a few minutes later.

(2)
RS
Robert Shih
Sep 17, 2021
Independent

A camera, no. A specially calibrated mass spectrometer from the distant future that's attached to the camera... maybe.

Avatar
Marty Major
Sep 14, 2021
Teledyne FLIR

I think that Conor was really, really good... though the panelists weren't exactly throwing any split-fingered fastballs low and away at him.

I specifically liked his answer to the most important question (imo) - which was immediately after the DNA question referenced above: (50:01 mark)

Dame Professor Parveen Kumar:

"How can one use this technology (Uyghur face detection) in a good way?"

Conor:

"...I've spent some time thinking about this, and I can not come up with a single application of this technology that has a positive outcome for... anyone."

(4)
UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #3
Sep 15, 2021

Perhaps the flood of Chinese body temp cameras that don't work in the USA was actually an attack vector by the PRC to spread the virus they released.

(1)
(2)
(6)
(1)
U
Undisclosed #4
Sep 15, 2021

IPVM Image

(11)
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #5
Sep 15, 2021

The tribunal will have zero effect on the PRC and their treatment of that ethnicity or any others. More bs talk. Then the participants ask silly questions such as the one about a camera that can detect DNA. Really? More useless politics. None the less, conor, nice job participating in the puppet show.

(4)
(5)
Avatar
Marty Major
Sep 15, 2021
Teledyne FLIR

I almost never use disagree - but I did this time because I disagree with your denigration of the value of Conor's participation in this UK public forum, representing IPVM.

we all know that politicians (of most any country) have no real understanding of video surveillance technology... just as they have little understanding of farm machinery technology that their constituents might care about.

that lack of understanding on their part doesn't diminish Conor's contribution representing IPVM - and instead, I think his answers to their questions actually helped them understand why Uyghur detection analytics are bad. m'kay?

(5)
(1)
(1)
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #5
Sep 15, 2021

M'kay; wasn't diminishing Conor, himself. I'm sure he did very well at participating in a paper tiger tribunal. I suppose we will have to wait and see what effect, if any, this has on the PRC policy, as we see it practiced today. My guess is they will continue "business as usual". Let's see if I'm proven wrong. M'kay....

(1)
(1)
(5)
Avatar
Marty Major
Sep 15, 2021
Teledyne FLIR

the m'kay thing is a South Park reference -

it was not meant to sound like it sounds if you don't know the reference. for that I apologize.

like you, I am suspect about the actual impact of such a tribunal... but what is the alternative? give up?

(1)
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #5
Sep 15, 2021

I understand the "m'kay" reference. And it did present as demeaning, based on Trey's use of it in the show and with the character. However, I'm the last person that should say anything about presenting as demeaning; given my history here but I digress. I would say " no don't give up if it matters to you". I suppose, it also doesn't matter to me enough, either; there are many other things to expend the energy on then this as I see it. This methodology, also, in my opinion, and experience, will not work. We will find out soon enough.

(2)
(1)
Avatar
Marty Major
Sep 15, 2021
Teledyne FLIR

my response was based on my own perception that you indirectly attacked complimented Conor for his participation in 'the puppet show'

you see it differently and that's cool.

(1)
(2)
U
Undisclosed #1
Sep 15, 2021
IPVMU Certified

Then the participants ask silly questions such as the one about a camera that can detect DNA. Really?

Really. They just have to kill you first :)

Scientists Can Sequence DNA With a Smartphone

(1)
UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #6
Sep 15, 2021

Good Job!

U
Undisclosed #7
Sep 15, 2021

LOL When you cannot beat Hikhua in the business, here we have IPVM.

I subscribed to IPVM for industrial trends but all I have seen is PIVM putting tons of effort to attack Hikhua or any manufacture they don't like. This is definitely ridiculous especially in the USA, a claimed to be a "free market" for global business.

The TRUE threat from Hikhua is never cybersecurity or Xinjiang conspiracy (I believe most Xingjiang experts from IPVM have never been to Xingjiang or China), but Hikhua's increasing market shares in the US market. The market needs good products with affordable prices and a strong supply chain and Hikhua is capable to do it and now you guys are jealous? When you start mix politics and business and kick off the good product, it is the end-users, the installers, the integrators, and the entire industry get hurt and paid for it. I dont blame IPVM but IPVM is more like to stir the pot.

(2)
(5)
(2)
(1)
(1)
JH
John Honovich
Sep 15, 2021
IPVM

I subscribed to IPVM for industrial trends but all I have seen is PIVM putting tons of effort to attack Hikhua or any manufacture they don't like.

We have 7,195 reports, including 500+ new ones so far this year. People can, of course, choose to read what they want.

IPVM have never been to Xingjiang

We are reporting these companies and the PRC own documentation. What would we do in Xinjiang, get bullied and beaten by PRC security forces? Our investigation is based on their own documentation that we found. They can address it directly but they have just made excuses.

When you start mix politics and business and kick off the good product, it is the end-users, the installers, the integrators, and the entire industry get hurt

Tell me about it. Wait, who started mixing politics and business? The PRC government by creating and controlling Hikvision.

(2)
(1)
(2)
(2)
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #8
Sep 15, 2021

"Tell me about it. Wait, who started mixing politics and business? The PRC government by creating and controlling Hikvision."

Says the person whose country is #1 Arms exporter in the world

and who manufactures all those weapons?

American companies for government

HIK just makes cameras

(2)
JH
John Honovich
Sep 15, 2021
IPVM

HIK just makes cameras

Come on, you are on IPVM every day. You know Hikvision does research with China's PLA Army to improve the lethality of its missiles:

To be clear, it's fine for Hikvision to work with its military. But it's also fine for other countries to be concerned about Hikvision doing that.

(2)
(2)
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #8
Sep 15, 2021

"Come on, you are on IPVM every day"

You should tell everybody about your "clicky" toy:)

(2)
(1)
(2)
JH
John Honovich
Sep 15, 2021
IPVM

Everybody can read IPVM's privacy policy that discloses what we use, including Clicky.

That said, I don't check to see your usage, I can simply tell it from your ongoing comments that have a unique style :)

(1)
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #5
Sep 16, 2021

"I can simply tell it from your ongoing comments that have a unique style :)"

Although similar; he isn't me...

(1)
U
Undisclosed #1
Sep 16, 2021
IPVMU Certified

Although similar; he isn't me...

That’s obvious since you haven’t demonstrated any aversion to the use of single dot sentence terminators, like this one.

(1)
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #5
Sep 16, 2021

.

;)

UI
Undisclosed Integrator #5
Sep 16, 2021

"You should tell everybody about your "clicky" toy:)"

"How Clicky works. Clicky is an advanced web analytics tool, geared toward optimizing traffic sources, content engagement, and conversions. ... Unlike Google Analytics, Clicky allows you to attach personal user data like names and email addresses to your visitor data so you know more about who is on your site."

Just more dirtbaggery..expected..

(1)
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #2
Sep 16, 2021

Clicky allows you to attach personal user data like names and email addresses to your visitor data so you know more about who is on your site

Not sure I get the point of that. This site has a paywall, so theoretically every action is traceable to a user account (with name, email, etc) already, right? Is outsourcing to Clicky just simpler than building that functionality?

JH
John Honovich
Sep 16, 2021
IPVM

Like most sites, we use generic web analytics tools (e.g., Google analytics) and seperately we do track user logins. As for #8, which is the subject of discussion here, I did not look it up, it's just obvious based on his style.

U
Undisclosed #1
Sep 15, 2021
IPVMU Certified

I dont blame IPVM…

wat

(2)