Is China Exporting Surveillance Under The Guise Of ‘smart City’?

China is one of the leading countries in smart city initiatives, with Chinese companies involved in more than half of the world’s smart city projects. Chinese firms are playing a significant role in many existing or planned smart cities in Southeast Asia, with the support of Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative and its Digital Silk Road component. However, there are disadvantages and concerns associated with becoming “smart”, such as data privacy and security threats, and the potential for a lack of local control.