bodyType

customContents

entityId

printArticlePageQuery

filter

article

body

urlAlias

articleSectionsContent

articleSeoArticle

articleSourceHeaderArticle

contentSchemaRenderContent

contentSubHeadlineContent

contentHeadlineContent

mainImagePrintArticleArticle

authorBlockPrintArticleArticle

contentSponsorTagContent

articlePianoPaywallContent

scmpYoutubeContent

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

query printArticlePageQuery(
  $entityId: String!
  $customContents: [CustomContentInput]
  $bodyType: BodyFormatTypeEnum
) {
  article(filter: {entityId: $entityId}) {
    entityId
    body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
      json
    }
    urlAlias
    ...articleSectionsContent
    ...articleSeoArticle_3o8td4
    ...articleSourceHeaderArticle
    ...contentSchemaRenderContent
    ...contentSubHeadlineContent
    ...contentHeadlineContent
    ...mainImagePrintArticleArticle
    ...authorBlockPrintArticleArticle
    ...contentSponsorTagContent
    ...articlePianoPaywallContent
    ...scmpYoutubeContent
    ...hooksTrackPageViewArticle
    id
  }
}

fragment articlePianoPaywallContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksPaywallPromiseContent
}

fragment articleSectionsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      ...helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection
      ...entityLink
      name
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment articleSeoArticle_3o8td4 on Article {
  ...hooksArticleSeoArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersGetArticleTypeArticle
  entityId
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
  summary {
    text
  }
  subHeadline {
    text
  }
  body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
    text
  }
  keywords
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  topics {
    name
    entityId
    id
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  images {
    style(filter: {style: "768x768"}) {
      url
    }
  }
  readingTime
}

fragment articleSourceHeaderArticle on Article {
  urlAlias
  ...entityLink
}

fragment authorBlockPrintArticleArticle on Article {
  ...defaultArticleDateContent
  ...authorNamesArticle
}

fragment authorNameAuthor on Author {
  ...entityLink
  name
  entityUuid
}

fragment authorNamesArticle on Article {
  authorLocations
  authors {
    entityId
    location
    ...authorNameAuthor
    id
  }
}

fragment blockquoteQuoteContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment contentHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  socialHeadline
  ...contentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
}

fragment contentNewsletterWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
    id
  }
  sections {
    value {
      relatedNewsletters {
        ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
        id
      }
      id
    }
  }
  ... on Article {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment contentSchemaRenderContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...blockquoteQuoteContent
  ...hooksInlinePlusWidgetContent
  ...imageContent
  ...inlineWidgetContent
  ...photoGalleryWidgetContent
  ...scmpYoutubeContent
}

fragment contentShareWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  shortUrl
  socialHeadline
  headline
}

fragment contentSponsorTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentSubHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  subHeadline {
    json
  }
  summary {
    json
  }
  ...contentSchemaRenderContent
}

fragment defaultArticleDateContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksArticleDateUtilsContent
}

fragment entityLink on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  __typename
  entityId
  entityUuid
  urlAlias
  urlRedirect {
    toUrl
    id
  }
  application {
    entityId
    id
  }
  ... on Section {
    fullSectionPath {
      entityId
      id
    }
    parentSection
  }
  ...helpersAppBarVariantBase
  ...helpersApplicationBase
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersAppBarVariantBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsLiveArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...helpersSectionContent
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersApplicationBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
}

fragment helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection on Section {
  name
}

fragment helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle on Article {
  entityId
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  disableOffPlatformContent
  sponsorType
  published
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment helpersCheckIsLiveArticle on Article {
  flattenTypeIds
  liveArticle {
    status
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    paywallTypes {
      entityUuid
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsStyleArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersGetArticleTypeArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        entityId
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter on Newsletter {
  entityId
  name
  alternativeName
  description {
    text
  }
  summary {
    text
  }
  homepageDescription {
    text
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle on Article {
  authors {
    types
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersStyleSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersUseContentSponsorContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    sponsor {
      ...sponsorTagSponsor
      name
      type
      id
    }
    id
  }
  ... on Article {
    sponsorType
  }
  ...helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent
}

fragment hooksArticleDateUtilsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  createdDate
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
}

fragment hooksArticleSeoArticle on Article {
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle
  entityId
  headline
  socialHeadline
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
  images {
    generic_og: style(filter: {style: "og_image_scmp_generic"}) {
      url
    }
    styles(filter: {styles: ["og_image_posties_article", "og_postmag", "og_image_style", "og_image_scmp_analysis", "og_image_scmp_explainer", "og_image_scmp_editorial", "og_image_scmp_fact_check", "og_image_scmp_debate", "og_image_scmp_live", "og_image_scmp_obituary", "og_image_scmp_opinion", "og_image_scmp_review", "og_image_scmp_series", "og_image_scmp_generic"]}) {
      url
      style
    }
    type
  }
  urlAlias
}

fragment hooksContentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        name
        entityId
        description {
          text
        }
        id
      }
    }
    ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  }
  flag
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  ...hooksContentHelperContent
}

fragment hooksContentHelperContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle
  ...helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle
  ...helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle
  flag
}

fragment hooksInlinePlusWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment hooksPaywallPromiseContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment hooksTrackPageViewArticle on Article {
  entityId
  publishedDate
  headline
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  entityUuid
}

fragment imageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  ...checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent
}

fragment inlineWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentNewsletterWidgetContent
}

fragment mainImagePrintArticleArticle on Article {
  images {
    title
    url
    isSlideshow
    size_652x446: style(filter: {style: "652x446"}) {
      url
    }
  }
}

fragment photoGalleryDialogContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment photoGalleryWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...photoGalleryDialogContent
}

fragment scmpYoutubeContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  publishedDate
}

fragment sponsorTagSponsor on Sponsor {
  name
  type
  images {
    url
  }
}


sections

types

disableOffPlatformContent

sponsorType

published

headline

socialHeadline

authors

images

publishedDate

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

keywords

topics

readingTime

authorLocations

entityUuid

Celia Chen

Meng Jing

Most people in China had not heard of Xiamen Meiya Pico Information Co – until it caught the attention of officials in the Trump administration and subsequently was named in a data privacy scandal.
The 20-year-old company based in China’s coastal province of Fujian is believed to be linked to a spy app used by Chinese police to extract data from citizens’ smartphones during random street checks, according to a recent Financial Times report. The app known as MFSocket provides access to images and audio files, location data, call logs, messages and the phone’s calendar and contacts, including those used in the messaging app Telegram, French security researcher Baptiste Robert said after conducting research into the app.
When reached by the South China Morning Post last week, Robert said his research into MFsocket, which was based on the information available on the internet, showed that Meiya Pico’s name was on the certificate used when signing the app. Meiya Pico did not respond to a request for comment.
Meiya Pico received global attention after Bloomberg reported in May that the Trump administration was considering adding the company, as well as four other Chinese surveillance tech companies, on its trade blacklist over concerns about their role in helping Beijing repress minority Uygurs in China’s west. The latest concern is that the app developed by Meiya Pico is now being used outside Xinjiang as part of China’s so-called surveillance state after several Chinese netizens complained on social media about the police installing MFSocket on their smartphones.
A Chinese internet user complained on the country’s biggest search engine Baidu, asking advice in a Q&A forum after a police officer installed MFSocket on his smartphone during a routine traffic stop. Another user in the same forum asked about the function of the app after he found the software on his phone.
Tech war escalates: US may add five Chinese surveillance companies to blacklist
Meiya Pico’s eight-year-old online store on Taobao marketplace, one of China’s largest e-commerce platforms, has only 700 followers compared to more than 10 million for Apple’s six-year-old store on the site.
Starting out as a computer sales firm two decades ago, the company has transformed into a digital forensics and information security specialist. The computer sales business came about from personal interest, 49-year-old company co-founder Teng Da said in an interview with Chinese media Caijing early last year. Born in 1970, Teng grew up in Xiamen, a city on China’s southeast coast, and has been passionate about electronics since childhood.
“I do not attribute my interest in electronics to my talent but to the influence of my father,” Teng said. “He always feels excited about new things … He bought me an Apple computer in my middle-school days [in the early 1980s] when most Chinese people didn’t know about computers.”
Graduating from the electronic engineering department of Xiamen University in 1992, Teng worked as an engineer in a local electronics company for seven years where he gained experience in computer assembly and sales. Computer sales was a profitable venture in China in the late 1990s because the government departments and private organisations were keen to embrace computer technology, even though most users did not know how to fully take advantage of the functions.
Teng stepped in to fill that void and established Meiya in 1999 with financial backing from his father, who ran a medical electronic instruments factory at the time, according to Caixin.
Soon after the company began to make products for digital forensics and information security and in 2008 it won a contract to provide data security for the Beijing Olympics, a turning point for Teng.
Are Xinjiang camps training centres? China’s own documents say otherwise
Fast forward to today and Meiya Pico has become China's largest provider of digital forensics, serving law-enforcement and government organisations all around the world, according to information on its website.
“Protecting information has become increasingly necessary, of which crime monitoring and post-crime investigations are of great importance,” Teng told state media China Daily in a 2018 interview.
Meiya Pico is also moving into advanced technologies such as big data, artificial intelligence, AI and cloud computing to seek new growth engines. AI is seen as a key technology, according to last year’s annual report, and Meiya has built a public AI platform to cooperate with research associations and colleges on advancing its technologies.
Meiya claims a 40 per cent share of the digital forensics market in mainland China, benefiting from a surge in demand for ﻿products and services aimed at identifying and extracting evidence from computer hard drives and mobile phones as the country steps up law enforcement, crime prevention and internet clean-up measures. Net profit reached 303 million yuan (US$44 million) in 2018, up from 62 million yuan in 2011 when the company listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.

Meiya’s products cover the investigation process, including field investigations, evidence gathering, data recovery, digital analysis, password recovery and related areas, according to information on its website. Customers include police departments, public prosecutors, the customs department and China’s public cyberspace administration. The company says it has more than 1,600 senior employees and 24 branch offices in China. However, overseas sales are less than 1 per cent of total revenue, with clients in Hong Kong, Southeast Asia, Korea, India and Europe, according to the company.
Its rapid development and leading position in the digital forensics also caught the eye of China’s biggest state-owned investment holding company. In early April, Meiya Pico’s controlling shareholders, including Teng Da and his mother Guo Yongfang, sold 15.79 per cent of the company’s shares to SDIC Intelligence, a unit of State Development & Investment Corporation (SDIC).
It is unclear how its new status as a state-affiliated company will be seen by the Trump administration as it considers whether to add Meiya to the entity list, which would effectively bar the Chinese company from buying US technology. However, in May the company issued a statement to the Shenzhen Stock Exchange saying: “Most of the company’s software products are self-developed … and most components for hardware products are replaceable and mainly provided by Chinese producers.”


What you need to know about Meiya Pico, China’s low-profile forensics champion named in data privacy scandal

A Chinese internet user complained after a police officer installed Meiya Pico’s spy app on his smartphone during a routine traffic stop. Photo: EPA-EFE

This photo taken on June 4, 2019 shows a woman walking below surveillance cameras in Akto, south of Kashgar, in China's western Xinjiang region. - A recurrence of the Urumqi riots which left nearly 200 people dead a decade ago is hard to imagine in today's Xinjiang, a Chinese region whose Uighur minority is straitjacketed by surveillance and mass detentions. A pervasive security apparatus has subdued the ethnic unrest that has long plagued the region. (Photo by GREG BAKER / AFP)

Tech

Policy

Enterprises

Meiya claims a 40 per cent share of the digital forensics market in mainland China
Net profit was US$44 million last year, five times more than in 2011


Fujian-based digital forensics and information security specialist is believed to be linked to spy app used by Chinese police to extract data from citizens’ smartphones.


What you need to know about Meiya Pico, China’s low-profile forensics champion named in data privacy scandal

Meiya claims a 40 per cent share of the digital forensics market in mainland China Net profit was US$44 million last year, five times more than in 2011

Meiya claims a 40 per cent share of the digital forensics market in mainland China

Net profit was US$44 million last year, five times more than in 2011