How China’s Police Used Phones and Faces to Track Protesters

Unlike other Beijing protesters, Mr. Wang did not cover his face with a hat or sunglasses, and he took off his medical mask at one point during the event. He said he wasn’t surprised the police had been able to identify him, but the use of such technology made him feel uneasy.

“I knew the risks of going to such a gathering,” he said. “If they want to find us, they can definitely succeed.”

The phone call from the police lasted only 10 minutes, but the officer did his best to intimidate him: “He stated clearly that there was no second chance.”

After being arrested or approached by the police, many protesters have shied away from using VPNs (virtual private networks) or other foreign apps like Telegram and Signal. The fear, they said, is that now that they are on the authorities’ radar, the software they use on their phones might be more closely monitored, leading to more police attention and possible detention.

One man, who was arrested Monday during a protest in Chengdu in central China, said his phone was checked while he was being held by the police, who saw that he had Telegram and other foreign apps. He deleted the apps when he was released.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/02/business/china-protests-surveillance.html