China - Surveillance state or way of the future? | DW Documentary
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Published 2021-10-17
Critics call it "the most ambitious Orwellian project in human history." China's digital surveillance system involves massive amounts of data being gathered by the state. In the so-called "brain" of Shanghai, for example, authorities have an eye on everything. On huge screens, they can switch to any of the approximately one million cameras, to find out who’s falling asleep behind the wheel, or littering, or not following Coronavirus regulations. "We want people to feel good here, to feel that the city is very safe," says Sheng Dandan, who helped design the "brain." Surveys suggest that most Chinese citizens are inclined to see benefits as opposed to risks: if algorithms can identify every citizen by their face, speech and even the way they walk, those breaking the law or behaving badly will have no chance. It’s incredibly convenient: a smartphone can be used to accomplish just about any task, and playing by the rules leads to online discounts thanks to a social rating system.
That's what makes Big Data so attractive, and not just in China. But where does the required data come from? Who owns it, and who is allowed to use it? The choice facing the Western world is whether to engage with such technology at the expense of social values, or ignore it, allowing others around the world to set the rules.
#documentary #freedocumentary #China
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All Comments (21)
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The last thing I want is my phone or my refrigerator telling me an onion is going to go bad in a week.
A cabin in the woods is sounding better and better. -
They watch us, but who is watching them. " government officials ". We live in a hypocrisy
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This is indeed concerning. What's even more concerning is that China is definitely not the only country that imposes this level of surveillance.
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Thank you for spending the time to create and share this content/awareness
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Just the fact that criticism is classed as resistance, says it all ..
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The start with the entire family at the dinner table distantly staring at their phones is all you need to know about how ‘good’ this way of the future is
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What incredible documentaries. And the best of all, free. Thanks for this quality content DW Documentary.
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thanks Dw for broadcasting these type of documentaries that too free.i have watched couple of other documentaries also by DW and I must say..it's awesome.
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God bless DW for producing these outstanding documentaries and making them available for free. They are better than BBC, CNN, NBC, etc put together.
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High technology is fascinating but meanwhile what it is capable of is terrifying
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There is no way I want to live in a society like this.
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Tremendous, informative and an extraordinary documentary👍.
Thank you DW team. -
Technology isn't scary but when it falls in the wrong hands it's deadly.
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That dystopic future we were scared of is already here!
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I really liked how transparent the documentary is!!
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23:16 in video duration. Is that termination or determination?
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When a system is in place which has ultimate authority and knowledge of everyone's life it creates a position of power which can be abused to an even higher degree than previously available. Over-reliance of systems, governments, or certain people just gives them more power and opportunity to abuse.
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This is pure orwellian horror..
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A real dystopia.
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I feel like it kinda will in someone in different states and great video DW Documentary :]
