Summary of China - ¿Estado policial o laboratorio del futuro? | DW Documental

00:00:00 - 00:40:00

The documentary "China - ¿Estado policial o laboratorio del futuro? | DW Documental" discusses the trend of the Chinese government implementing stricter controls over the population, especially those groups categorized as "minorities." The documentary focuses on the ethical implications of this development, with particular focus on the patent application for a facial recognition technology developed by Huawei together with the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

• 00:00:00 In China, every citizen is registered and cameras are everywhere, recording everything from public places to private homes. The government has developed algorithms to detect situations automatically, such as when someone is wearing a beard, and takes appropriate action, such as firing employees who are found to be neglectful. This technology even monitors those who take out the garbage. China's data reaches all the way to Germany. China's large, multinational corporations have been watching and collecting our data for a long time, and our lives are now increasingly in their hands. There is little that we can do to resist this future, with our lives increasingly controlled by technology. However, the high cost of this technology in China and in the West is a major issue. Inexpensive, high-tech gadgets such as electric cars are popular among Chinese parents and their children, but they are not available to everyone. Families with means can also afford private English classes online, which are delivered in real time. At the same time, the government is tightening its grip on our data, with no more than one hour's distance between each district and its data center. Shanghai has a population of 24 million people and over 10 million residents live in its 24 districts. Each district has a data center, and the government calls this the
• 00:05:00 In this video, DW reports on China's growing surveillance apparatus, which is designed to keep the population under control. The documentary follows a group of Chinese government officials as they go about their everyday tasks - from monitoring public places to enforcing rules on waste disposal - via the use of cameras and sensors. Some of the footage shown highlights the intrusive nature of the surveillance, with residents being filmed and monitored at all times. One resident of a Chinese city complains about the constant surveillance, saying it has caused him to lose trust in the police. The documentary also discusses the potential implications of such a system on individual privacy and freedom.
• 00:10:00 The video discusses how China's social media platform, tick tock, works. Two students, Lily and her boyfriend, enjoy the platform and think it is well written.tick tock allows anyone to become famous in seconds. The best part is that you don't have to do anything else in the world but upload a video and hope for the best. Events in professional sports are mentioned as an example. Both students are curious and want to know more about the technology. Scientists from the Instituto de Seguridad Informática de la Universidad del Rühr were asked to study the text more deeply in order to make visible the data that is collected. They installed a text that is visible on a phone now. Both students can continue to follow the conversation in real time and what data is being transmitted. They are always transmitting this information and while a music is playing in the background, the text is reading the personal data, approximate location, type of mobile phone, and every like and dislike. This platform is valuable because it can filter out certain political or uncomfortable topics. Tick tock does not want to grant an interview about their moderation policies. Michael Berg, an expert in social media, believes that Chinese companies are actually private companies in formal terms, but
• 00:15:00 The video discusses how China has subordinated the protection of data and freedom of circulation to the fight against coronavirus. It also discusses how Chinese scientists are using applications to collect data. One artist is disappointed because he was unable to show his latest project, which focuses on the privacy of individuals, in China.
• 00:20:00 In China, government officials and health officials receive information and can respond quickly with whatever technically possible. There are almost no criticisms or resistance by the population. Artists usually provide critical feedback, believing that data collection is useful for controlling the coronavirus. I have tablets, which is an ethical decision more important than technology's ability to choose between life or privacy. Back in the Hangout where family and everyday life are combined with technology, it seems practical to them to go shopping without cash. A small stain and having savings on their smartwatch with a scan of their purchase is completely normal. Family leaves digital footprints everywhere with businesses and public organizations alike. China wants to use these data to create a digital profile of each citizen's behavior. The government wants citizens to be obedient and rewards voluntary work with punishments if citizens don't obey rules. The professor has been studying the topic for years and the metro in Beijing just started a pilot project for citizen's ratings. So far, only a quarter of the population has registered. China wants citizens to be obedient and rewards voluntary work with punishments if citizens don't obey rules. The professor has been studying the topic for years and the metro in Beijing just started a pilot project for citizen's ratings. So far,
• 00:25:00 This video discusses the difference between China's "state police" model and the country's more liberal "laboratory of the future" model. It shows how businesses in China can trust their customers because of the country's technological advancements, such as the family-owned company, Shandong Jianye Electric Appliance, which makes a software to recognize voices. The video also discusses China's digital life, which is ahead of Europe and the United States in terms of technological innovation. For example, due to the vast number of products connected to the internet and devices, such as smartphones, that are equipped with technology, China has taken over Germany as the third largest smartphone market in the world. While Germans are cautious about the privacy of their data, Chinese consumers are more willing to trade privacy for convenience.
• 00:30:00 Jan Johan, a robotics and artificial intelligence expert, started working on a facial recognition project in China in early February, shortly after the coronavirus pandemic started. Within a few months, the project had completed a pilot program with 300 participants. However, many Germans are skeptical of the state's growing role in their lives, and the facial recognition project has met with protests from those who are unmarried and have no children. Meanwhile, the project has already finished in China, but new technology cannot be tested thoroughly without risk.
• 00:35:00 The video interviews a teacher from Xinjiang, China, who has experienced repression firsthand. She describes how the Police State has turned her school into a prison, and how the surveillance systems in place have prevented her students from learning. She also speaks about the high rate of birth defects in Xinjiang, which she believes is due to the repressive environment. The government in China denies the existence of these camps, calling them "training centers." However, international observers believe that there may be as many as one million people missing in these camps, and that torture and sexual abuse are rampant.
• 00:40:00 The documentary, "China - ¿Estado policial o laboratorio del futuro? | DW Documental", discusses the recent trend of the Chinese government implementing stricter controls over the population, especially those groups categorized as "minorities." One example of this trend is the government's efforts to increase sales of water products, which is done in order to collect information on customers. Also mentioned is the increasing demand for artificial intelligence in China, which is being driven by the government's desire to become a leading technological power. The documentary also discusses the ethical implications of this development, with particular focus on the patent application for a facial recognition technology developed by Huawei together with the Chinese Academy of Sciences.