NYT: Chinese Firm Geedge Networks Developing AI to Predict Political Dissent Before It Happens

New York Times·high signal

A New York Times investigation based on leaked internal documents reviewed by Vanderbilt University researchers reveals that Chinese tech firm Geedge Networks and its government-backed MESA Lab are building AI systems to analyze citizens' internet activity, location data, and telecommunications records to predict political risk before dissent materializes. US officials say there is no evidence the system has been deployed, and development appears hampered by Biden-era chip export controls. The story underscores how AI-powered predictive policing is advancing from theoretical to operational in authoritarian states.