Beijing, April 6: A report reveals that the identity control system in China’s capital, Beijing, is rapidly expanding. Big data and facial recognition technology are being employed to monitor people’s movements in public spaces.
According to a report by The Epoch Times, a Chinese tourist shared on social media that during a recent five-day trip to Beijing, they underwent security checks six times and had their national ID card scanned 15 times.
In a video shared on the social media platform WeChat, the tourist stated, “Basically, wherever you go, you have to scan your ID. There are ID checkpoints at tourist attractions, metro stations, and many public places. Your journey is constantly interrupted.”
The report further indicated that this experience highlights the growing identity control system in Beijing, which integrates big data and facial recognition technology to monitor public movement.
The report noted, “Many petitioners, rights activists, and others have told The Epoch Times that this system reflects a broader trend of data-driven social control, raising concerns about privacy and civil liberties in China. They requested to keep their identities confidential or only publish their surnames during interviews.”
In Beijing, security checks and ID verification have become almost mandatory for residents. Regular bag checks occur at metro stations, while many locations require ID scans linked directly to personal data systems. For certain groups, this system can be even more restrictive.
Speaking to The Epoch Times, a woman with the surname Li, who has visited Beijing multiple times, remarked that the checks have increased.
The report stated that petitioning is an administrative process that listens to people’s complaints. However, human rights groups claim that authorities often dismiss these petitions and frequently harass those dissatisfied with the regime’s authoritarian rule.
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