China’s all-seeing social control network brings an end to fugitives’ festive fun
Visit to a Lunar New Year flower market ends with a trip to the police station for two wanted men in southern China
With most of China getting into the swing of the Lunar New Year holiday, two crime suspects in the southern city of Guangzhou could have been forgiven for thinking the local police force was taking a break too.
Unfortunately for them, the city’s network of surveillance cameras equipped with facial recognition technology is now so extensive that a trip to a festive flower fair in Haizhu district ended with them both in custody, Southern Metropolis Daily reported.
As in Hong Kong, buying bouquets, potted plants and other decorations for the Lunar New Year is a time-honoured tradition in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province.
Traditionally, festive markets and fairs have attracted a heavy police presence to maintain order and help keep the peace. In recent years, however, the introduction of new technology has meant that the authorities’ surveillance capabilities have never been more comprehensive.