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Surveillance

Surveillance
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Surveillance. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
Chinese banks are increasingly using satellites to evaluate their clients’ terrestrial assets. Photo: Shutterstock
Banking & finance

Default in our stars: China banks use satellites to track assets, cut loan risks

Analysts say orbital monitoring of sites, property and other assets provides vital data on borrowers.

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United States

US Congress extends controversial surveillance law by 10 days

Technology

Opinion | In Asia-Pacific, the real maritime contest is over satellite surveillance

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Iran

With hacking of street cameras before and during war, who’s watching who?

For years, cybersecurity experts have warned that street cameras could be hacked. Now, AI advances help governments sift through footage.

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With surveillance cameras embraced by many nations, governments are increasingly aware of the risks of being hacked. Photo: Shutterstock
Britain

2 men charged with spying for Iran on UK Jewish targets

The men are accused of spying on targets given to them by Iran, including the Israeli embassy and Britain’s oldest synagogue.

United States

US rapper Afroman celebrates after court protects his right to mock police

The rapper had used home security footage in his music videos to take aim at their raid of his house in 2022.

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United States

Anthropic sues Trump administration as row over AI use by military deepens

The Pentagon blacklisted the start-up after it refused to let its technology be used for fully autonomous weapons and domestic surveillance.

The Pentagon on Thursday slapped a formal supply-chain risk designation on Anthropic, limiting use of a technology that a source said was being used for military operations in Iran. Photo illustration: TNS
Hong Kong police

Editorial | Smooth roll-out of surveillance tech will help Hong Kong combat crime

While cameras and facial recognition technology must be deployed carefully, their use can ultimately help ensure public safety.

United States

US Treasury to stop using Anthropic AI tech, including Claude platform

Anthropic had previously turned down the Pentagon’s demand that it agree to unconditional military use of its Claude models.

United States

Anthropic vows to sue US after Trump tells government to stop using firm’s AI

The start-up has refused to let its models be used for the mass surveillance of US citizens or deployed in fully autonomous weapons systems.

Anthropic has rejected the Pentagon’s demand that it agree to unconditional military use of its Claude models. Photo illustration: Reuters
United States

Palantir defends surveillance tech as US government contracts boost sales

CEO says Palantir is supporting some ‘unusual operations’, but has safeguards to prevent government overreach.

Demonstrators taking part in an ‘ICE Out’ protest in Minneapolis on January 30. Photo: Reuters
Australia

Why Southeast Asia’s move to protect children online may fuel state surveillance

Measures to rein in tech companies risk opening the door to tighter state oversight of online platforms, analysts say.

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The Philippines

Why the Philippine Army is turning to locally built remote weapons systems

The roll-out of the new Cobra weapon system is part of Manila’s push to build a self-reliant defence industry.

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India

India scraps mandatory cybersecurity app on new phones after backlash

The Indian government confidentially ordered companies like Apple, Samsung, and Xiaomi to install the Sanchar Saathi app on their new phones.

The Sanchar Saathi app logo is seen on a phone. Photo: Reuters
Nordic nations

Concern in Norway after test shows Chinese-made buses can be disabled remotely

Transport operator Ruter says the manufacturer has access to the vehicles’ control systems, which could in theory be used to turn them off.

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A Yutong bus, owned by public transport operator Ruter, is seen during a test of the vehicle’s communication system in Sandvika, Norway, in August. Photo: Ruter AS via AP
Crime in Hong Kong

Editorial | Police CCTV coverage must be expanded with care, ensuring data security

While police figures on the effectiveness of camera surveillance speak for themselves, it must be rolled out with care amid privacy concerns.

Britain

China poses ‘daily threat’ to UK security, MI5 chief says

Ken McCallum confirmed MI5 thwarted a China threat last week, but expressed frustration over a collapsed prosecution of two alleged spies.

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China’s Communist Party

AI-enhanced bodycams among advanced police gear China shows developing nations

At 3-day forum, officials from nations such as Belarus, DRC, Nicaragua and Ethiopia meet China’s minister for public security.

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Chinese organisers invited more than 800 guests and law enforcement officials from 176 countries and regions and 14 international organisations to a forum where China displayed advanced policing and security equipment. Photo: CCTV
Hong Kong society

Editorial | Privacy is paramount as Hong Kong deploys drones to enforce traffic laws

Efforts to improve road safety at accident hotspots are welcome, but public fears about being spied on should not be dismissed.

Hong Kong environmental issues

Hong Kong rat catchers get AI boost as live trappings of rodents surge 40%

Pest control teams trapped 89,600 rats in 2024, with authorities introducing AI-equipped thermal imaging cameras to track rodent activity.

Music

What the Coldplay ‘kiss cam’ scandal says about privacy for us all today

‘There’s no such thing as the private life any more,’ says one expert as the fallout from Coldplay concert saga continues.

A fan holds up a sign reading “We’re not here cheating on our significant others” during a kiss cam segment of the baseball game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Los Angeles Angels in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Photo: Getty Images
Hong Kong police

Hong Kong police could deploy facial recognition tech in CCTVs by end of year

Technology will enable officers to identify suspects and missing people in real time, and force will also install surveillance cameras on patrol cars.

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Hong Kong police will install surveillance cameras on 60 patrol cars that will be able to identify vehicles and licence plates. Photo: Sam Tsang
My Take

My Take | The future of surveillance tech is already here – in the US, not China

Chinese citizens enjoy public safety in exchange for compromised privacy. In the United States, people are facing an increasingly unchecked state.

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United States

Coldplay’s jumbotron captures – what exactly? The internet has its theories

A US firm is investigating after a viral clip sparked speculation that its CEO and HR chief had been caught on camera while having an affair.

US-China relations

China-tied AI tools like DeepSeek face US federal ban over ‘threat’

Bipartisan bid would also prohibit American agencies from procuring or deploying such tech developed in Russia, Iran and North Korea.

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A DeepSeek AI sign is seen at a building where the Chinese start-up’s office is located in Beijing on February 19, 2025. Photo: Reuters
Indonesia

Indonesia is buying more weapons – but can it sustain such defence spending?

Analysts question whether Indonesia has the wherewithal to finance and maintain its defence systems.

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Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto is accelerating the country’s military modernisation programme. Photo: Indonesia’s presidential palace/AFP
Law

Legal Tales | Some legal ramifications surrounding use of AI in police surveillance

Advantages of certain systems can readily be seen but transparent policies should be formulated for their usage.

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Japan

Is Japan’s increased surveillance of remote islands a link to China activity?

Deployments may be to islands already with radar capabilities, but experts say the plan is not a response to recent Chinese maritime presence.

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