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Network Zodiac: Monitoring Network Hardware Network Zodiac (Nezha/哪吒) is a network-wide asset management and monitoring solution developed by Geedge Networks.17 Network Zodiac seems to be modeled on Grafana, a popular open-source analytics and monitoring platform used by many commercial entities. Like Grafana, Network Zodiac helps organizations visualize and understand their networks’ performance, usage, and errors in real time. However, while Grafana largely provides these analytics on software applications, Network Zodiac extends this functionality to analyze the performance of hardware network equipment.18 Network Zodiac also allows for the monitoring of a significantly larger number of devices. This product provides clients with the ability to diagnose issues across their networks, utilizing a distributed monitoring architecture in which a software agent referred to as “NZ-TALON” collects data from each node (individual pieces of hardware) and aggregates all metrics in a data center run by the client government or ISP. This data is subsequently transmitted to a global NZ-Agent instance for long-term storage, allowing the client to query this global instance within the Network Zodiac web interface in order to retrieve and visualize aggregated performance metrics. Image Caption: This screenshot extracted from the Geedge Networks dataset of Network Zodiac dashboard showing a map of the monitored devices and the status within each data center. A notable feature that differentiates Network Zodiac from popular open-source solutions is its integrated web terminal, which enables network administrators to remotely connect to any monitored endpoint using SSH. This functionality provides the client with direct access to network devices for troubleshooting and management purposes. However, it opens up the client to significant security risk. In a worst case scenario, a hacker could have access to all of the client’s security equipment deployed within a country. This kind of tradeoff indicates that Geedge has prioritized convenience and ease of use for large-scale management over basic security.

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The Internet Coup A Technical Analysis on How a Chinese Company is Exporting The Great Firewall to Autocratic Regimes

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English

Topic

Digital Rights
Digital Surveillance
Internet Connectivity / Accessibility
Internet Restrictions

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INTER SECLAB

Date Published: Sep 9, 2025

Abstract: Over the past two decades, the Chinese government has been steadily refining their model of internet control using surveillance and censorship technologies domestically while promoting this approach to other nations under the banner of “digital sovereignty”. Through the export of these technologies, China is not only extending its global influence but also laying the foundation for a federated system of internet governance. In this system, Chinese companies provide the infrastructure and expertise for client governments to more easily monitor and control their own networks, while learning from these deployments and improving collective capacity for digital authoritarianism worldwide.

This research by InterSecLab uncovers evidence of the export of a suite of technologies resembling China’s Great Firewall by Geedge Networks, a private company linked to the academic entity ‘Massive and Effective Stream Analysis’ (Mesalab), a research laboratory at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Our team’s investigation identifies a pattern of commercialization of surveillance capabilities, with Geedge Networks offering a suite of products that enable comprehensive monitoring and control of internet users.

InterSecLab’s analysis reveals that Geedge Networks is contracted with governments in Kazakhstan, Ethiopia, Pakistan, Myanmar, and one other unknown country to establish sophisticated systems of internet censorship and surveillance. Furthermore, our findings indicate that Geedge Networks is also involved in developing similar systems deployed within China, including in Xinjiang and other regions.

Based on analysis of a leak of more than 100,000 Geedge Networks documents that was shared with InterSecLab, this research sheds light on the features and capabilities of Geedge Networks’ systems, which include deep packet inspection, real-time monitoring of mobile subscribers, granular control over internet traffic, as well as censorship rules that can be tailored to each region. The leak also reveals information about Geedge Networks’ relationship with the academic entity, Mesalab, as well as their interactions with client governments. The implications for data sovereignty are significant, and our findings raise concerns about the commoditization of surveillance and information control technologies.

This research examines the recent development of Geedge Networks’ systems in various countries, including what is known about their deployment timelines. By analyzing the company’s internal documentation, InterSecLab was able to chronicle the expansion of commercially available national firewalls and speculate about the implications for the future of the global internet considering the spread of such systems.

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Myanmar Internet Project

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The Internet Coup A Technical Analysis on How a Chinese Company is Exporting The Great Firewall to Autocratic Regimes

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