In a concerning revelation, US technology companies are inadvertently fueling China’s extensive surveillance operations in Tibet and Nepal. An Associated Press investigation has uncovered that American tech giants, including Intel and Seagate, are providing essential components for systems used to monitor Tibetan communities and track potential dissidents. This raises serious questions about Silicon Valley’s role in enabling human rights violations through their global supply chains, despite export restrictions designed to prevent such scenarios.
The investigation details how Chinese firms like Hikvision and Dahua—both blacklisted by the US government—continue to incorporate American technology into surveillance systems deployed across Tibet. These systems utilize facial recognition, cell phone monitoring, and AI-powered analytics to maintain what Chinese authorities call ‘grid management’ of Tibetan populations. Perhaps most troubling is the extension of this surveillance network into neighboring Nepal, where China has exported its monitoring capabilities to track Tibetan refugees and exiles who fled Chinese control.
This technological entanglement highlights the complex challenges facing the AI and tech industry in a globalized economy. While US companies maintain they comply with all export regulations, the investigation reveals how components flow through distributors and intermediaries before ending up in restricted surveillance applications. As AI capabilities continue to advance, this case underscores the urgent need for more effective oversight of how Western technology is deployed globally and raises important questions about corporate responsibility in the age of artificial intelligence.