What Are the Risks of Overseas Surveillance Using Chinese Platforms?

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In recent years, Chinese technology platforms such as TikTok, Huawei, ZTE, and others have become ubiquitous globally, especially across Asia, Africa, and parts of Europe and the Americas. While these platforms offer affordable, innovative products and services, their rapid global expansion has raised concerns about overseas surveillance and data privacy risks. Governments, cybersecurity experts, and users worldwide are increasingly scrutinizing the potential for Chinese platforms to facilitate state-sponsored surveillance beyond China’s borders.

Background: Why Are Chinese Platforms Under Scrutiny?
The concerns about surveillance risks on Chinese platforms stem female database from a mix of geopolitical, legal, and technical factors. Unlike many Western tech companies, Chinese firms operate under China’s National Intelligence Law of 2017, which mandates that organizations must “support, assist, and cooperate” with Chinese intelligence agencies when requested. This legal framework creates worries that Chinese platforms might be compelled to hand over user data or provide backdoor access to the Chinese government.

Additionally, the Chinese government’s track record on domestic surveillance, including the extensive use of facial recognition, social credit systems, and internet censorship, fuels suspicions that overseas data collected via Chinese platforms could be exploited for intelligence purposes.

Key Risks of Overseas Surveillance Using Chinese Platforms
1. Data Collection and Access
Chinese platforms often collect extensive data from users, including personal details, browsing habits, location data, and device information. When this data is transmitted and stored on servers controlled or accessible by Chinese entities, it creates an opportunity for surveillance. In some cases, Chinese platforms have been accused of harvesting more data than necessary, which can be leveraged for profiling or targeted influence campaigns.

For example, TikTok’s data practices have faced intense scrutiny. Although TikTok insists that international user data is stored outside China and is not accessible to the Chinese government, cybersecurity experts warn that the app’s source code and data flows could potentially be manipulated to access overseas user information.

2. Backdoors and Technical Vulnerabilities
Beyond overt data collection, Chinese platforms might contain software backdoors—deliberate security weaknesses that allow unauthorized access. These backdoors can be exploited by state actors for covert surveillance or cyber espionage. Huawei, as a telecom equipment provider, has faced accusations that its infrastructure could be used to intercept sensitive communications in foreign countries, though the company has repeatedly denied these allegations.

Even without intentional backdoors, technical vulnerabilities in software can be exploited. Given the strategic importance of telecommunications and social media infrastructure, even minor flaws could become a gateway for surveillance.

3. Influence Operations and Content Manipulation
Surveillance is not only about data theft but also about control and influence. Chinese platforms can be used to monitor political activists, dissidents, or minority groups abroad. There are concerns that collected data may enable targeted censorship, disinformation campaigns, or repression of diaspora communities.

Moreover, by analyzing user data, Chinese authorities could identify influential individuals or groups overseas, enabling tailored influence operations to sway public opinion or policy decisions in other countries.

4. Challenges to Transparency and Accountability
One of the biggest risks is the lack of transparency about how Chinese platforms handle overseas data. The opaque ownership structures, limited independent audits, and conflicting statements from Chinese firms hinder effective oversight. This lack of accountability complicates efforts by foreign governments to assess the risks and enforce data protection standards.

Global Responses and Mitigation Efforts
In response to these risks, several countries have taken steps to limit or scrutinize the use of Chinese platforms. The U.S. government, for instance, has banned TikTok on government devices and pressured allies to reconsider Huawei’s involvement in 5G networks. India has banned dozens of Chinese apps citing national security. The European Union is strengthening cybersecurity and data protection rules to address foreign surveillance risks.

At the same time, some Chinese companies are working to improve transparency by opening “transparency centers” where external experts can review their code and data practices. However, skepticism remains high, and many experts argue that trust cannot be built without stronger legal safeguards and international cooperation.