【#逐字學英文國際日報】17： all-caps, online malcontents, in the majority, take an oath to “do impartial justice.” Beijing’s blueprint for a digital totalitarian state

Beijing’s blueprint for a digital totalitarian state

Phone scanners, facial-recognition cameras and other technologies are heightening the authorities’ ability to spy on China’s nearly 1.4 billion people, according to police and private databases examined by The Times.

Individually, none of the tracking techniques are beyond the capabilities of other countries, including the U.S. But together, they could propel China’s spying to a new level, making its cameras and software smarter and more sophisticated.

The surveillance networks fulfill a longtime goal of ensuring social stability, but it’s unclear how well the police are using the capabilities, or how effective they are.

Big picture: The surveillance push has empowered the police, who are taking a greater role in China under President Xi Jinping and using fears of unrest to win power and resources. They can track criminals as well as online malcontents, sympathizers of the Hong Kong protests, critics of the police and more. It often targets vulnerable groups, like the Uighurs.

Quotable: “You’re uncomfortable with it,” said one technology worker. “But if you don’t do it, then there’s no possibility of living a life. There’s no way out.”

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Speaker Nancy Pelosi opened the debate with a solemn message: “He gave us no choice.” Republicans, as expected, tried to slow down the process, while President Trump mounted an indignant, all-caps defense on Twitter: “SUCH ATROCIOUS LIES BY THE RADICAL LEFT, DO NOTHING DEMOCRATS.” What’s next: If Mr. Trump is impeached, a Senate will follow in the new year. With Republicans in the majority, his removal from office appears highly unlikely — though senators must take an oath to “do impartial justice.” all caps capital letters (= letters of the alphabet in the form and larger size that is used at the beginning of sentences and names), used especially in order to emphasize something or show that you are angry: Using all caps is considered yelling online.