The future of policing in China is heavily focused on AI-powered surveillance, with VPN and Telegram users becoming key targets, according to a report by the South China Morning Post. This focus on artificial intelligence was prominently featured at the 12th China International Exhibition on Police Equipment, the country’s largest policing tech expo, held in Beijing last May.
AI technology, including DeepSeek-inspired large language models (LLMs), is being integrated into criminal investigations and the identification of high-risk individuals. Among the new tools showcased at the event, two are specifically designed to make life more difficult for the millions of Chinese citizens who regularly use VPNs to access restricted sites and services.
China’s Ongoing Crackdown on Online Dissent and Censorship
VPNs are essential for internet users in China to bypass government censorship and access platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, and independent news outlets such as the South China Morning Post. While the exact number of VPN users in China is unclear, they are vital for accessing information not controlled by the state.
According to Freedom House, Chinese internet users have faced the world’s worst conditions for online freedom for the past decade. The government’s extensive censorship is coupled with legal repercussions for online activities, making it difficult for users to access anti-censorship tools like VPNs. Only a limited number of VPN services still function in China under these conditions, but authorities are now focusing on new ways to block them.
A technology company from Nanjing has developed a tool capable of detecting VPN usage, according to the South China Morning Post. This represents a significant step in the government’s effort to further restrict access to censored content.
Targeting Telegram Users and Online Dissent
Among the tools showcased at the expo, one of the most concerning is a surveillance system aimed at monitoring the popular messaging app Telegram. Since 2015, Telegram has been blocked in China following a DDoS attack on its servers. As a result, many VPN users access Telegram to communicate freely.
The Third Research Institute of the Ministry of Public Security, China’s top police body, introduced a tool to monitor all Telegram accounts linked to Chinese mobile phone numbers. These numbers are tied to strict real-name registration requirements, allowing the government to identify users.
The tool is reported to have already collected more than 30 billion messages and monitored 70 million Telegram accounts, along with 390,000 public channels and groups. The system specifically targets messages related to politics and Hong Kong, aiming to curb online dissent.
The Ministry of Public Security cited the widespread use of Telegram by anti-government protesters during the 2019 Hong Kong protests as one of the driving factors behind the development of this tool.
