China’s Security and Surveillance Industry Focused on Self-Reliance and Vulnerabilities Amidst U.S. Pressure and AI Risks

China’s security and surveillance industry is ramping up efforts to address vulnerabilities to the United States and other outside actors. The focus includes combating fraud, hardening systems against hacking, and developing an early warning system to identify and manage potentially disruptive technology. The emphasis on self-reliance was on display at the recent Security China exhibition in Beijing, where the risks posed by hackers, advances in artificial intelligence, and pressure from rival governments were hot topics. The renewed focus on potential risks from emerging technology comes amid growing geopolitical tensions between the US and China, with Washington cutting off China’s access to American technology. However, some experts believe that cooperation is necessary to confront the threat of AI. Many Chinese researchers echoed the concerns of their American counterparts about the potential perils of artificial intelligence, but the stark differences in their approaches to technology make cooperation difficult. The Chinese government has built one of the most intrusive digital surveillance systems in the world, while the use of policing technology in the US is constrained by civil society and legal challenges.