On October 16, a report from the “Ministry of National Security” via its WeChat account revealed that in recent years, as national security agencies have intensified their crackdown on illegal surveying activities, certain foreign organizations have pivoted toward collaborating with domestic companies in so-called project partnerships to evade oversight. This has allowed them to illegally gather original surveying data from China, posing a threat to national security.
The investigation uncovered that a foreign company, referred to as Company A, partnered with a qualified domestic surveying firm, Company B, under the guise of conducting research on intelligent automotive driving. This partnership enabled Company A to carry out unauthorized geographical information surveying activities within China.
**Layers of Outsourcing to Circumvent Legal Oversight**
Company A, a contractor for sensitive projects in another country, lacks the qualifications to independently conduct geographical information surveying in China according to the Surveying Law of the People’s Republic of China. To avoid scrutiny from regulatory authorities, Company A claimed that the project was related to intelligent automotive research and subsequently outsourced the work multiple times, ultimately delegating it to domestic Company B, which possesses the necessary surveying credentials. Driven by financial incentives, Company B effectively became a puppet for Company A, whose surveying qualifications provided a façade for the illegal acquisition of surveying data within China.
**High-Tech Equipment Concealing Surveying Activities**
With advancements in surveying technology, some surveying activities can now be accomplished using vehicles outfitted with cutting-edge surveying equipment. These vehicles can automatically collect and integrate surveying data after traversing target areas. The use of high-tech equipment has not only enhanced surveying efficiency but also made illegal operations increasingly covert. To expedite the collection of surveying data in China, Company A purchased several vehicles equipped with high-precision radars, GPS systems, and optical lenses, aiming to boost efficiency and minimize detection risks by regulatory bodies. Furthermore, the data format collected by Company A’s equipment is unique, rendering it unreadable by common software and creating additional hurdles for effective regulatory oversight.
**Direct Oversight to Steal Original Data**
In a bid to obtain original surveying data directly, Company A took control of the surveying project, bypassing the various outsourcing layers, and directly directed Company B’s personnel to conduct surveying in multiple provinces across China. Company A even deployed foreign technical experts to provide hands-on guidance to Company B’s surveying staff, focusing on controlling the storage, processing, and transfer of the surveying data. Ultimately, under Company A’s management, Company B transferred the gathered data out of the country.
**Illegal Surveying and the Risk of Data Leakage**
According to Chinese law, original geographical surveying data may pertain to military installations and sensitive departments, posing risks of being used by foreign entities to identify critical national assets. To ensure the safety and control of original data during surveying, the Surveying Law and the Regulations on the Management of Surveying Results specifically require surveying entities to not only possess valid qualifications but also strictly implement data confidentiality management responsibilities.
The analysis determined that much of the data collected by Company A constitutes state secrets. In this case, Company B neglected relevant industry regulations during its surveying activities, allowing a foreign company to dictate the direction of the data flow, resulting in a loss of control over the original surveying data. In response, national security agencies, in conjunction with relevant departments, have initiated joint law enforcement actions, leading to legal repercussions for the involved companies and responsible individuals.
**Message from National Security Agencies**
In the era of big data, data resources hold significant value for national economic and social development, with surveying data closely linked to territorial security, military safety, ecological security, and data security. Domestic surveying firms and professionals must strictly adhere to national laws and regulations when conducting geographical information surveying activities, enhancing security management of surveying data, and being vigilant against the theft of such data by foreign organizations or individuals.
Citizens who observe suspicious individuals, equipment, or vehicles engaged in illegal surveying activities in sensitive areas are encouraged to report them promptly through the hotline 12339, online complaint platforms (www.12339.gov.cn), the Ministry of National Security’s WeChat account, or directly contact local national security agencies.
