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A Chinese technology company is reportedly working on an artificial intelligence system that could help authoritarian governments not only monitor dissidents but also predict who may become a critic of the state in the future, according to a report by The New York Times.
The project, developed by Chinese firm Geedge Networks, would use AI to analyze internet activity, location data, telecommunications records, and online behavior to identify individuals who could pose a political risk before they openly express dissent.
Researchers from Vanderbilt University who examined leaked company documents said the technology appears designed to create detailed behavioral profiles and detect what Chinese authorities often describe as “harmful information” — a term frequently used to refer to political criticism or dissent.
According to the report, the system could link a person's movements with their online activity, including the books they read, movies they watch, and other digital behavior, allowing AI models to assess potential future actions and political attitudes.
Experts warn that such technology could significantly expand the capabilities of state surveillance systems. Brett J. Goldstein of Vanderbilt University's National Security Institute described it as an example of what happens when mass surveillance is combined with artificial intelligence, arguing that predictive monitoring represents a particularly concerning development.
The leaked documents suggest Geedge collaborated with its government-backed research division, MESA Lab, to develop AI tools capable of classifying citizens and identifying individuals considered politically sensitive.
Researchers found no evidence that the predictive system has been fully deployed. However, U.S. officials cited by the report believe Chinese companies are actively pursuing such capabilities as part of broader efforts to strengthen surveillance and public security technologies.
The report also notes that U.S. export restrictions on advanced AI chips may have slowed some of these efforts by limiting access to high-performance computing power. Nevertheless, China continues to invest heavily in domestic semiconductor development and AI infrastructure to reduce dependence on foreign technology.
According to the researchers, the project illustrates how next-generation AI could transform surveillance from tracking what people have done into predicting what they might do in the future.
