Leak shows China exported censorship tools to Myanmar and Pakistan 9/17/25, 11:49 AM ENERGY 5 Terra Innovatum ropes in partner to make megawattscale SOLO nuclear reactors Abhishek Bhardwaj 17 Hours Ago The data appears to come from Geedge Networks, a company linked to Fang Binxing, often described as the “father” of the Great Firewall. Additional files are traced back to the MESA lab at the Institute of Information Engineering, a branch of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. What the leaked files reveal Inside the archive are full build systems for deep packet inspection (DPI) platforms. Researchers also found code modules that mention detecting and slowing down specific circumvention tools. Much of the material focuses on VPN detection, SSL fingerprinting, and full-session logging. The Great Firewall Report, a research group that first verified the material, says the documents outline the design of a commercial platform called “Tiangou.” They describe it as a turnkey “Great Firewall in a box.” Early versions of Tiangou reportedly ran on HP and Dell servers before switching to Chinese-made hardware in response to sanctions. One leaked deployment sheet shows how powerful the system is. It was installed across 26 data centers in Myanmar and supported live dashboards monitoring 81 million simultaneous TCP connections. According to the documents, Myanmar’s state-run telecom company operated the system. It was tied directly into the country’s internet exchange points, which allowed authorities to block or filter internet traffic on a massive scale. Global spread of censorship technology The documents also show that Geedge’s DPI systems have been exported beyond China. WIRED and Amnesty International reports revealed sales to Pakistan, Ethiopia, and Kazakhstan. In many cases, the systems were deployed alongside lawful intercept platforms, which allow real-time surveillance of communications. In Pakistan, Geedge’s technology reportedly forms part of a larger surveillance program called WMS 2.0. This system is capable of monitoring mobile networks across the country in real time. These exports show how China’s censorship tools are being adapted for use in other nations, where they can be combined with surveillance programs to monitor and control online activity. According to reports, it was also found that the leaked files detail how Geedge’s system can intercept unencrypted HTTP sessions. This ability adds another layer of control by allowing operators to see exactly what users are doing online. https://interestingengineering.com/culture/china-great-firewall-leak Page 2 of 6