SUMMARY
Summary
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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