https://www.scmp.com/rss/326771/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Associated Press Associated Press The role of Israel’s hijacking of Iran’s street cameras in the killing of the country’s supreme leader underscores how surveillance systems are increasingly being targeted by adversaries in wartime. Hundreds of millions of cameras have been installed above shops, in homes and on street corners across the world, many connected to the internet and poorly secured. Recent advances in artificial intelligence have enabled militaries and intelligence agencies to sift through vast amounts of... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3347633/iran-built-camera-network-control-dissent-israel-made-it-targeting-tool?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3347633/iran-built-camera-network-control-dissent-israel-made-it-targeting-tool?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 15:34:02 +0000 Reuters Reuters Two men appeared in a London court on Thursday accused of being tasked by Iran to carry out hostile surveillance on the Israeli embassy, Britain’s oldest synagogue and other Jewish targets. Nematollah Shahsavani, 40, a dual Iranian-British national, and Alireza Farasati, an Iranian national, 22, are accused of being involved in gathering information and undertaking reconnaissance of targets given to them by Iranian spy services over five weeks last summer. As such, the alleged activities... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3347207/2-men-charged-spying-iran-uk-jewish-targets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3347207/2-men-charged-spying-iran-uk-jewish-targets?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2026 13:52:23 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Grammy-nominated rapper Afroman won a defamation lawsuit filed by seven Ohio sheriff’s deputies who sued him over music videos in which he used home security footage to mock their raid of his home. “We did it, America! Yeah, we did it! Freedom of speech! Right on! Right on!” the 51-year-old rapper, born Joseph Foreman, shouted outside the courthouse after the Wednesday evening verdict. He later posted the clip to social media. The case tested the limits of parody and the license artists can take... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3347194/us-rapper-afroman-celebrates-after-court-protects-his-right-mock-police?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3347194/us-rapper-afroman-celebrates-after-court-protects-his-right-mock-police?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2026 12:04:10 +0000 Reuters Reuters Anthropic on Monday filed a lawsuit to block the Pentagon from placing it on a national security blacklist, escalating the artificial intelligence lab’s high-stakes battle with the US military over usage restrictions on its technology. Anthropic said in its lawsuit that the designation was unlawful and violated its free speech and due process rights. The filing in federal court in California asked a judge to undo the designation and block federal ‌agencies from enforcing it. “These actions are... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3346019/anthropic-sues-us-government-row-over-ai-use-military-deepens?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3346019/anthropic-sues-us-government-row-over-ai-use-military-deepens?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Mar 2026 16:36:30 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong has been slower than other parts of the world to embrace the use of surveillance cameras and facial recognition technology in the fight against crime. But the city is catching up. The first phase of the government’s SmartView programme, completed last year, saw the police install 5,000 cameras and integrate another 6,000 from other departments and organisations. This is just the beginning. Around 60,000 cameras are expected to be in place by 2028 and another 6,500 will be added by... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3345703/smooth-roll-out-surveillance-tech-will-help-hong-kong-combat-crime?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3345703/smooth-roll-out-surveillance-tech-will-help-hong-kong-combat-crime?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Mar 2026 22:45:07 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The US Treasury Department said on Monday it is ending use of all Anthropic products, following US President Donald Trump’s government-wide ban on the AI start-up after it rejected the Pentagon’s demands. The US Treasury “is terminating all use of Anthropic products, including the use of its Claude platform, within our department”, said Secretary Scott Bessent in a social media statement. The decision comes at the direction of Trump, he added. “Under President Trump no private company will ever... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3345184/us-treasury-says-it-stopping-use-anthropics-tech-including-its-claude-platform?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3345184/us-treasury-says-it-stopping-use-anthropics-tech-including-its-claude-platform?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 17:15:04 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse President Donald Trump told the US government on Friday to “immediately” stop using Anthropic’s technology after the AI start-up rejected the Pentagon’s demand that it agree to unconditional military use of its Claude models. Anthropic insists its technology should not be used for the mass surveillance of US citizens or deployed in fully autonomous weapons systems, while the Pentagon says it operates within the law and that contracted suppliers cannot set terms on how their products are... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3344946/trump-tells-us-government-immediately-stop-using-anthropic-ai-tech?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3344946/trump-tells-us-government-immediately-stop-using-anthropic-ai-tech?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Feb 2026 22:19:58 +0000 Reuters Reuters Palantir Technologies CEO Alex Karp defended the firm’s surveillance technology as it reported a big jump in sales on Monday, ‍saying it has safeguards to prevent government overreach, without mentioning US immigration enforcement efforts in Minnesota that have drawn widespread protests. The data analytics company said revenue derived from the US government spiked 66 per cent in the fourth quarter from the year-ago period to US$570 million. Total sales of US$1.41 billion exceeded analysts’... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3342195/palantir-defends-surveillance-tech-us-government-contracts-boost-sales?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3342195/palantir-defends-surveillance-tech-us-government-contracts-boost-sales?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Feb 2026 06:04:49 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran As Australia’s new restrictions on social media use by children under 16 take effect this month, governments across Southeast Asia are rolling out or weighing their own measures aimed at protecting young users online. From platform licensing rules in Malaysia to age-based access limits in Indonesia, the moves reflect a broader global push to rein in tech companies over child safety, cyberbullying and harmful content. But analysts say such policies can also open the door to wider regulatory... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3336820/southeast-asia-follows-australia-tightening-social-media-rules-safety-or-censorship?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3336820/southeast-asia-follows-australia-tightening-social-media-rules-safety-or-censorship?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Dec 2025 00:00:24 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem The Philippine Army has rolled out a locally developed remote weapons system that officials said would boost troop protection while advancing Manila’s push to build a self-reliant defence industry amid limited manpower and resources. The Controller Operated Battle-Ready Armament (Cobra) was formally turned over to the Department of National Defence on Thursday at the Army Armour Division headquarters in Camp O’Donnell, Capas, Tarlac, following two years of development led by the Department of... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3336746/why-philippine-army-turning-locally-built-remote-weapons-systems?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3336746/why-philippine-army-turning-locally-built-remote-weapons-systems?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Dec 2025 08:00:13 +0000 Reuters Reuters India revoked its order to smartphone makers on Wednesday to require the installation of a state-run cybersecurity app days after the plan triggered a major backlash from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s opponents and privacy activists over surveillance fears. The Indian government had confidentially ordered companies including Apple, Samsung and Xiaomi to install new phones with an app called Sanchar Saathi, or Communication Partner, within 90 days, Reuters was first to report on... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3334987/india-reassures-users-about-snooping-state-run-app-you-can-delete-it?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3334987/india-reassures-users-about-snooping-state-run-app-you-can-delete-it?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Dec 2025 02:48:34 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press A leading Norwegian public transport operator has said it will introduce stricter security requirements and step up anti-hacking measures after a test on new Chinese-made electric buses showed the manufacturer could remotely turn them off. Transport operator Ruter said test results published last week showed that Chinese bus maker Yutong Group had access to their control systems for software updates and diagnostics. “In theory, this could be exploited to affect the bus,” it said. The tests –... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3331691/concern-norway-after-test-shows-chinese-made-buses-can-be-disabled-remotely?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3331691/concern-norway-after-test-shows-chinese-made-buses-can-be-disabled-remotely?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 05 Nov 2025 18:15:04 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Police have credited their “SmartView” surveillance system with helping the investigation of more than 480 cases and the arrest of more than 840 suspects. At the same time, the force said it would push ahead with expanding the system through integrating closed-circuit television feeds from other departments and public organisations, on top of adopting and scaling up the use of facial recognition. Coverage is to be expanded to public housing estates, cross-harbour tunnels, venues hosting the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3330222/police-cctv-coverage-must-be-expanded-care-ensuring-data-security?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3330222/police-cctv-coverage-must-be-expanded-care-ensuring-data-security?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Oct 2025 22:45:13 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press China poses a daily threat to Britain’s security, the head of MI5, the country’s domestic intelligence agency, said on Thursday in remarks that step up pressure on authorities to explain why the prosecution of two men charged with spying for Beijing collapsed just before they were due to stand trial. The government, opposition politicians and prosecutors have traded blame over the failed criminal case as the United Kingdom tries to balance between challenging and engaging with the Asian... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3329299/mi5-chief-says-china-poses-daily-threat-uk-security-amid-collapse-spying-case?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3329299/mi5-chief-says-china-poses-daily-threat-uk-security-amid-collapse-spying-case?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Oct 2025 15:14:17 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei China has showcased and marketed a range of new public security equipment, including AI-assisted facial recognition surveillance devices, in an exhibition for police forces in developing countries. The equipment was displayed at the three-day Global Public Security Cooperation Forum, which runs in the coastal city of Lianyungang, Jiangsu province, until Thursday. According to state broadcaster CCTV, the exhibition’s theme is “Security Sharing, Development Integration”. “Through this showcase,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3325892/china-showcases-ai-enhanced-bodycams-developing-nations-police-expo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3325892/china-showcases-ai-enhanced-bodycams-developing-nations-police-expo?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Sep 2025 04:00:09 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Drones have been launched into a new role in Hong Kong as police try to enforce traffic laws at some of the city’s worst accident hotspots. The use of the technology to detect violations and boost road safety is to be welcomed, as long as the authorities do not lose sight of the need to ensure privacy. Police announced recently that their first trials of the drones would take place on Shek O Road and Route Twisk, notorious roads with sharp bends that draw illegal racers who all too often wind up... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3325332/privacy-paramount-hong-kong-deploys-drones-enforce-traffic-laws?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3325332/privacy-paramount-hong-kong-deploys-drones-enforce-traffic-laws?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Sep 2025 22:45:14 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu Hong Kong rat catchers have reported a 40 per cent year-on-year surge in the number of live rodents trapped, with about 89,600 captured in 2024, helped by AI-powered surveillance technology. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department introduced thermal imaging cameras equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) to track rodent activity last year, replacing traditional trapping methods such as searching for gnaw marks on sweet potato bait. In Tsuen Wan’s Hau Tei Square, for example, captures... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3322972/hong-kong-rat-catchers-get-ai-boost-live-trappings-rodents-surge-40?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3322972/hong-kong-rat-catchers-get-ai-boost-live-trappings-rodents-surge-40?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 24 Aug 2025 08:41:46 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press When the “kiss cam” at a Coldplay concert on July 16 landed on a couple who tried – but failed – to duck out of the spotlight, the internet immediately got to work. In hours, the clip was just about everywhere. Endless memes, parody videos and photos of the pair’s shocked faces filled social media feeds. Online sleuths rushed to identify who was on camera. US tech company Astronomer eventually confirmed that its CEO and chief people officer were in fact the couple in the video – and announced... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/3319495/what-coldplay-kiss-cam-scandal-says-about-privacy-us-all-today?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/3319495/what-coldplay-kiss-cam-scandal-says-about-privacy-us-all-today?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 25 Jul 2025 20:15:08 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Hong Kong police will incorporate facial recognition technology into their surveillance cameras as early as the end of this year, enabling officers to identify suspects and missing people in real time, the force has revealed. Senior Superintendent Eric Leung Ming-leung said that from the end of July, the force would also expand its “SmartView” surveillance camera installation programme to mobile cameras installed on 60 patrol cars that would be able to identify vehicles and licence plates. “We... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3319503/hong-kong-police-could-deploy-facial-recognition-technology-cctv-system-end-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3319503/hong-kong-police-could-deploy-facial-recognition-technology-cctv-system-end-year?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 25 Jul 2025 00:30:09 +0000 Alex Lo Alex Lo Out of story ideas about China? One default topic for Western hacks is to warn against the repressive nature of China’s pervasive “hi-tech” public surveillance. But a recent one in The New York Times takes the cake. Forgive the long quote, but it helps to fill up column space. It’s also necessary to show the person’s pathos or value system. I don’t know. But here goes: “I heard some surprising refrains on my recent travels through China. ‘Leave your bags here,’ a Chinese acquaintance or tour... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/article/3318900/future-surveillance-tech-already-here-us-not-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/article/3318900/future-surveillance-tech-already-here-us-not-china?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 20 Jul 2025 13:00:08 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press It started out as a routine bit of fun at a Coldplay concert: lead singer Chris Martin asked the cameras to scan the crowd for his “Jumbotron Song”, when he sings a few lines about the people the camera lands on. At a concert at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts on Wednesday, a man wearing a birthday sash was up first. Two people in banana costumes were highlighted. But in between, something else ensued. For several seconds, a couple was shown on the big screen. They were cuddling and smiling,... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3318832/coldplays-jumbotron-captures-what-exactly-internet-has-its-theories?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3318832/coldplays-jumbotron-captures-what-exactly-internet-has-its-theories?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Jul 2025 23:52:28 +0000 Zhao Ziwen Zhao Ziwen A bipartisan group of US lawmakers introduced a bill in both chambers of Congress to ban the federal use of China-linked artificial intelligence tools such as DeepSeek, writing the latest chapter in the tech rivalry between the world’s top AI powers. Titled the “No Adversarial AI Act”, the proposed legislation aims to prohibit federal agencies from procuring or deploying AI technologies developed in China, Russia, Iran and North Korea. The bill was introduced in the House by US congressman John... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3315838/china-tied-ai-tools-deepseek-face-us-federal-ban-over-threat-national-security?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3315838/china-tied-ai-tools-deepseek-face-us-federal-ban-over-threat-national-security?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Jun 2025 18:29:29 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow Indonesia’s recent signing of several defence acquisition agreements has shed light on its desire to accelerate military modernisation, but its ability to finance and maintain new systems amid economic challenges has come under scrutiny by observers. Last week, Turkey and Indonesia sealed an agreement for the sale of 48 units of the fifth-generation Kaan fighter aircraft during the INDO Defence 2025 exhibition held in Indonesia. The deal, which will make Indonesia the first buyer of Ankara’s... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3314910/indonesia-steps-defence-buys-reflecting-prabowos-military-modernisation-aim?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3314910/indonesia-steps-defence-buys-reflecting-prabowos-military-modernisation-aim?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Jun 2025 04:00:08 +0000 Derek Chan Derek Chan Since 2024, the government has begun an initiative named “SmartView” to install closed-circuit television in public places with high crime rates and pedestrian flow to assist in crime prevention, detection, and the preservation of public order and safety. The government and police have also indicated plans to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) facial recognition technology into these CCTV systems in coming years. Similar plans extend towards traffic offence enforcement, with the Automatic... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3314976/some-legal-ramifications-surrounding-use-ai-police-surveillance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3314976/some-legal-ramifications-surrounding-use-ai-police-surveillance?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Jun 2025 01:30:28 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall Japan is to deploy mobile radar units to enhance its surveillance capabilities at sea and in the air around its most remote islands, the announcement coming just days after two Chinese aircraft carrier groups were detected conducting drills off the east coast of mainland Japan. Defence Minister Gen Nakatani outlined the new measure during a press conference in Tokyo on Tuesday, although no timeline for the deployment was given and the locations of the new radar units were not confirmed. Experts... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3314045/japan-boost-air-and-sea-surveillance-around-remote-islands-mobile-radar-units?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3314045/japan-boost-air-and-sea-surveillance-around-remote-islands-mobile-radar-units?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Jun 2025 00:00:13 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem The Philippine military is ramping up efforts to enhance its drone offensive capabilities and countermeasures amid growing concerns over China potentially using waves of such unmanned aircraft to assert its claims in contested waters. As part of this push, Philippine and US forces recently tested high-powered microwave weapons during the Balikatan 2025 exercises, designed to neutralise so-called drone swarms. The Philippine military has also begun using Israeli-made intelligence, surveillance... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3313369/philippines-aims-counter-chinas-drone-swarm-capacity-learn-ukraine-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3313369/philippines-aims-counter-chinas-drone-swarm-capacity-learn-ukraine-war?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Jun 2025 09:00:08 +0000 Yuanyue Dang Yuanyue Dang The future of policing in China will be powered by artificial intelligence surveillance tools that can monitor Telegram and VPN users, as well as DeepSeek-inspired models that can analyse leads for investigations, according to exhibitors at an annual policing expo in Beijing. The surveillance equipment was showcased this week at the 12th China International Exhibition on Police Equipment, which ended on Saturday. The event – the largest policing technology expo of its kind – offered police and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3310749/chinas-next-gen-surveillance-tools-get-ai-boost-target-telegram-and-vpn-users?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3310749/chinas-next-gen-surveillance-tools-get-ai-boost-target-telegram-and-vpn-users?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 May 2025 13:00:08 +0000 Ling Xin Ling Xin China has completed key technology checks for an experimental satellite in very low Earth orbit (VLEO), marking an initial step towards building a 300-satellite constellation for high-resolution remote sensing and communications, according to local media. Chutian-001, which was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre a year ago, showed core capabilities – including satellite system performance, high-resolution smart imaging and space environment monitoring – Hubei Daily reported. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3310148/chinas-bullet-shape-satellite-test-paves-way-very-low-orbit-surveillance-network?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3310148/chinas-bullet-shape-satellite-test-paves-way-very-low-orbit-surveillance-network?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 May 2025 02:00:11 +0000 Igor Patrick,Zhao Ziwen Igor Patrick,Zhao Ziwen A new report detailing suspected Chinese surveillance sites in Cuba has triggered a congressional hearing in Washington, with lawmakers warning that Beijing may be expanding its intelligence footprint near US territory and urging the Donald Trump administration to take a firmer stance. Convened by the House Homeland Security subcommittee on transportation and maritime security on Tuesday, the hearing focused on recent findings from the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a US think... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3309325/brazen-suspected-china-surveillance-sites-cuba-trigger-us-house-hearing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3309325/brazen-suspected-china-surveillance-sites-cuba-trigger-us-house-hearing?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 May 2025 19:35:29 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem A drill on the use of cutting-edge microwave weapons to disable drone swarms during a joint defence exercise involving the United States and the Philippines is seen as a strategic signal by the allies to step up efforts in tackling unmanned military threats in the contested South China Sea. Conducted on April 28 as part of the annual Balikatan joint exercises, the trials involved two advanced counter-drone systems: the high-powered microwave component of the integrated fires protection... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3309261/philippines-us-drone-drill-signals-rising-threat-south-china-sea-unmanned-weapons?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3309261/philippines-us-drone-drill-signals-rising-threat-south-china-sea-unmanned-weapons?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 May 2025 08:55:34 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong police will consider introducing robot dogs and linking surveillance camera systems with other government departments to assist in law enforcement. Commissioner of Police Joe Chow Yat-ming, who assumed the top job on April 2, said on Sunday that the force would actively study the use of robots and robot dogs to reduce manpower. “We are researching whether robots can be used to catch thieves, perform other types of work or go out on patrol together, this is the direction we are heading... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3306332/hong-kong-police-consider-unleashing-robot-dogs-law-enforcement?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3306332/hong-kong-police-consider-unleashing-robot-dogs-law-enforcement?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 13 Apr 2025 06:41:15 +0000 Australia’s donation of 20 state-of-the-art drones to the Philippines has highlighted Manila’s pressing need to enhance its maritime domain awareness, just days after a tense encounter in the South China Sea, where Philippine and Chinese coastguard vessels nearly collided. At a ceremony on Tuesday in Bataan province, Canberra’s ambassador to Manila, Hae Kyong Yu, said the donation of unmanned aerial systems worth 34 million pesos (US$592,000) reflected Australia’s commitment to civil maritime... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3305816/australias-drone-donation-boosts-philippines-maritime-needs-amid-south-china-sea-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3305816/australias-drone-donation-boosts-philippines-maritime-needs-amid-south-china-sea-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 09 Apr 2025 07:05:58 +0000 The use of facial recognition scanners on the mainland has become part of daily life, used not only by law enforcement authorities but also hotels, housing estates, university campuses and shopping centres. While the increasingly sophisticated technology can make identification quicker, easier and more convenient, there have been growing public concerns about the risk of leaks and other privacy breaches. The passing of new regulations to reflect these concerns, restricting the use of facial... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3305308/facial-recognition-china-calls-protective-measures?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3305308/facial-recognition-china-calls-protective-measures?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Apr 2025 21:41:43 +0000 They came without warning, flying over waters near Japan last week: two Chinese drones, one a reconnaissance model and the other a sleek attack drone. For Tokyo, it was not just a test of its air defences but a preview of the future, analysts say, as Beijing seeks to normalise its military presence in the region while testing Japan’s response. Last Wednesday, two Chinese drones – a BZK-005 reconnaissance model and, for the first time, a Chengdu GJ-2 reconnaissance and attack drone – were tracked... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3300937/rattle-okinawa-chinese-drones-probe-japans-defences?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3300937/rattle-okinawa-chinese-drones-probe-japans-defences?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 04 Mar 2025 04:13:42 +0000 Chinese hi-tech start-up DeepSeek recently shocked the world by releasing a new generative artificial intelligence (AI) model that, it claims, rivals US company OpenAI’s ChatGPT in performance while blowing it away in cost efficiency. The announcement was a boon to China’s confidence in its technological self-reliance and a blow to Washington’s conviction that it could contain China’s emergence as a superpower. Talk of a “Sputnik moment” resounded in the US media. Yet the Cold War analogy missed... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3297566/deepseek-raises-fear-cold-war-powered-accessible-ai?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3297566/deepseek-raises-fear-cold-war-powered-accessible-ai?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 09 Feb 2025 21:30:07 +0000 Reuters Reuters China’s video surveillance equipment maker Zhejiang Dahua Technology said that it and its subsidiaries have agreed to terminate or exit five projects they signed with local governments in China’s Xinjiang region, a stock exchange filing showed on Monday. Some of the projects, awarded between 2016 and 2017, have been terminated in advance, while others were still in operation, Dahua said in a filing to the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. The company will cease operating the projects and proceed with... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-war/article/3292121/chinese-surveillance-tech-firm-dahua-exits-projects-xinjiang?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-war/article/3292121/chinese-surveillance-tech-firm-dahua-exits-projects-xinjiang?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Dec 2024 05:43:16 +0000 Winnie Wong Winnie Wong Hong Kong police aim to install up to nearly 6,400 sets of surveillance cameras over the next three years, with the force revealing that the more than 600 devices already set up under the initiative’s first phase have helped to crack 97 cases so far. Senior Superintendent Leung Ming-leung laid out the plan at a meeting of the Independent Police Complaints Council (IPCC) on Tuesday, explaining that the force was in the process of installing 2,000 sets of cameras under the scheme’s ongoing first... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3291256/hong-kong-police-install-6385-surveillance-cameras-over-next-3-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3291256/hong-kong-police-install-6385-surveillance-cameras-over-next-3-years?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Dec 2024 13:39:53 +0000 Xinmei Shen Xinmei Shen US-sanctioned Chinese surveillance giant Hikvision has terminated five contracts with local government authorities in Xinjiang, as it braces for the second term of US president-elect Donald Trump, who first put Hikvision on a trade blacklist in 2019. Hikvision ended the contracts for its public security projects in the far-western region of China, where local subsidiaries signed the deals with municipal governments in the region in 2017, the state-owned surveillance equipment maker said in a... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-war/article/3290801/chinese-surveillance-firm-hikvision-ends-xinjiang-government-contracts-ahead-trump-20?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-war/article/3290801/chinese-surveillance-firm-hikvision-ends-xinjiang-government-contracts-ahead-trump-20?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Dec 2024 08:00:11 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng Chinese video surveillance systems maker Zhejiang Uniview Technologies has called on the US government to reconsider the company’s inclusion in a trade blacklist, as geopolitical tensions between the world’s two biggest economies continue to escalate. Hangzhou-based Uniview on Tuesday was added to the so-called Entity List for enabling “human rights violations, including high-technology surveillance targeted at the general population, Uygurs, and members of other ethnic and religious minority... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-war/article/3290307/tech-war-chinese-surveillance-firm-uniview-calls-us-reconsider-its-trade-sanction?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-war/article/3290307/tech-war-chinese-surveillance-firm-uniview-calls-us-reconsider-its-trade-sanction?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Dec 2024 12:00:09 +0000 Washington’s provision of advanced boat drones to Manila will act as “a force multiplier” for the Philippine Navy, analysts say, allowing the US to enhance its ally’s surveillance and operational capabilities in the South China Sea while avoiding direct provocations that could escalate Beijing’s territorial challenges. US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin announced that the US government has given the Philippine Navy an undisclosed number of unmanned surface vessels (USVs) for its operations in the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3287530/us-gives-philippines-force-multiplier-drones-counter-beijing-south-china-sea?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3287530/us-gives-philippines-force-multiplier-drones-counter-beijing-south-china-sea?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 Nov 2024 09:00:09 +0000 A newly signed intelligence-sharing agreement between the Philippines and the US aims to address long-standing gaps in Manila’s maritime awareness, with analysts suggesting it could recalibrate the balance of power in the South China Sea by countering Beijing’s assertive actions in the region. The pact, known as the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA), grants the Philippines access to advanced capabilities like satellite imagery and electronic intelligence. Observers say... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3287144/south-china-sea-philippines-and-us-sign-pact-plug-maritime-intelligence-gaps?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3287144/south-china-sea-philippines-and-us-sign-pact-plug-maritime-intelligence-gaps?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 Nov 2024 04:00:08 +0000 Hong Kong police have arrested a 54-year-old man on suspicion of breaking into a store and stealing HK$60,000 (US$7,700) worth of cash, watches and bottles of red wine. The force said on Monday the arrest was made in the Western police district the day before, less than 12 hours after the case came to light. Officers were called to the shop on Chung Ching Street in the same district at around 2pm on Sunday after receiving a report of a break-in. The store is about 300 metres (984 feet) from the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3287017/hong-kong-man-54-arrested-over-stealing-hk60000-cash-watches-and-red-wine?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3287017/hong-kong-man-54-arrested-over-stealing-hk60000-cash-watches-and-red-wine?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 Nov 2024 06:53:18 +0000 Security has been stepped up in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong after 35 people were killed in a car attack outside a stadium in Zhuhai on Monday. An investigation is under way and authorities are looking for officials to hold accountable for the attack, according to one Guangdong official. They said security had been tightened, especially in crowded areas. China’s biggest air show – where the military’s latest warplanes and drones are on display – is under way in Zhuhai and an event... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3286364/security-tight-after-zhuhai-car-attack-leaders-look-risks-and-dangers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3286364/security-tight-after-zhuhai-car-attack-leaders-look-risks-and-dangers?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 Nov 2024 06:44:48 +0000 China’s top spy agency has called on the public to identify and report oceanic buoys that may be in use by a foreign military and could be used against submarines. Oceanic buoys are versatile marine observation devices mainly used to monitor oceanographic conditions, water quality and weather data. They play a critical role in maritime scientific research, offshore oil and gas exploration, as well as national defence operations. But, without naming any country, the Ministry of State Security... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3286093/mysterious-buoys-chinas-top-spy-agency-crowdsources-help-track-foreign-devices-sea?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3286093/mysterious-buoys-chinas-top-spy-agency-crowdsources-help-track-foreign-devices-sea?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 Nov 2024 12:00:08 +0000 The relocation of convicted child rapist Cho Doo-soon to a new residence in the same neighbourhood has reignited public fury in South Korea, intensifying calls for legal reforms to restrict high-risk offenders. Cho, 72, was imprisoned for 12 years after his brutal assault on an eight-year-old girl in 2008 – a crime that horrified the nation and left deep scars on the local community. Since his release in 2020, he has been under constant police surveillance. Recently, Cho moved to a new residence... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3284517/relocation-south-koreas-notorious-child-rapist-sparks-outrage-legal-debate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3284517/relocation-south-koreas-notorious-child-rapist-sparks-outrage-legal-debate?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 30 Oct 2024 14:37:30 +0000 Jess Ma,Clifford Lo Jess Ma,Clifford Lo Hong Kong police have installed more than 500 surveillance cameras across the city over the past eight months, with the security chief saying they might be used for counterterrorism purposes. Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung said on Monday that he would not exclude counterterrorism from efforts to combat crime through the installation of more surveillance cameras across the city and the use of new technologies. “We are rolling out these surveillance cameras to prevent and eliminate... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3284137/hong-kong-police-install-504-cctvs-over-8-months-leading-72-arrests-and-46-cases-solved?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3284137/hong-kong-police-install-504-cctvs-over-8-months-leading-72-arrests-and-46-cases-solved?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 28 Oct 2024 07:12:19 +0000 The Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TMSC) has come out against a report claiming the world’s biggest maker of advanced chips stands at the centre of a US investigation into a possible export-controls violation that may have helped mainland-based Huawei Technologies. A TSMC statement sent to the Post on Tuesday said the Taipei-based manufacturing giant “is a law-abiding company and we are committed to complying with all applicable rules and regulations, including applicable export... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3283440/tsmc-challenges-report-us-investigating-whether-it-made-chips-huawei?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3283440/tsmc-challenges-report-us-investigating-whether-it-made-chips-huawei?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Oct 2024 20:10:40 +0000 Chinese authorities are stepping up efforts to screen people at risk of taking out their anger on innocent members of the public following a series of attacks involving mass stabbings or cars being deliberately driven into pedestrians. At the grass-roots level, there is a long-standing tradition of identifying people with financial and emotional problems. But in recent months there has been a shift away from doing so with the aim of providing social support to trying to spot people “prone to... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3282044/chinas-grass-roots-officials-told-sift-out-losers-stop-random-attacks-public?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3282044/chinas-grass-roots-officials-told-sift-out-losers-stop-random-attacks-public?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 14 Oct 2024 07:43:12 +0000 Clifford Lo Clifford Lo Hong Kong police have arrested 185 people in a three-day citywide crackdown on violent crime and triad-related activities. The force said on Monday that the operation, coordinated by the organised crime and triad bureau, started last Thursday with the aim of combating triad gangs and cutting off their income. During the operation, code-named “Flowingshade”, officers conducted searches at entertainment venues, including mahjong parlours, nightclubs and game centres, and raided illegal businesses... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3280518/hong-kong-police-arrest-185-3-day-citywide-crackdown-triad-related-activities?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3280518/hong-kong-police-arrest-185-3-day-citywide-crackdown-triad-related-activities?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Sep 2024 07:37:10 +0000 Police will mobilise more than 6,000 officers to bolster security across Hong Kong on National Day on Tuesday, aided by the force’s new surveillance cameras to monitor conditions on the ground in real time, the Post has learned. The deployment involves about 2,000 more officers than what the force used on the 27th anniversary of the city’s return to Chinese rule on July 1, while sources familiar with police operations said on Friday the number was comparable with last year’s. More personnel were... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3280281/hong-kong-police-deploy-6000-officers-backed-security-camera-system-national-day?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3280281/hong-kong-police-deploy-6000-officers-backed-security-camera-system-national-day?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Sep 2024 12:00:08 +0000