Who is watching us? The hidden risks in global technology competition
As the US and China vie for technological superiority, the implications for global surveillance and data privacy grow ever more complex. Who really holds the power in our interconnected world?
The ongoing competition between Chinese and American technology raises significant concerns about surveillance and potential data access. Chinese technology, particularly in telecommunications, cloud systems, artificial intelligence, and drones, could be used by Beijing to conduct surveillance activities. While technically possible, the same risk applies to American technology.
Both sets of technology process traffic, store information, and control access, making them vulnerable to state access. Chinese state-sponsored cyber operations have been documented, and a 2025 joint advisory highlights Chinese-linked actors compromising networks for espionage purposes. However, the presence of these risks does not automatically mean every Chinese product contains hidden surveillance capabilities.
Similar vulnerabilities have been found in American technology, which operates under a less transparent legal system and is not immune to government surveillance. Despite these differences, both nations have the ability to compel companies to comply with their demands, creating strategic leverage and geopolitical power. A complete dependence on either China or the United States would not ensure technological sovereignty but would merely transfer dependence from one superpower to another.
Bilateral agreements between Washington and Beijing may reduce miscalculations and contain cyber incidents but cannot completely eliminate the inherent risks.
Written by urgent.news from IOL's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
