The Chinese firm, Zhenhua Data Information Technology Co. Limited, has come into the limelight for monitoring over 10,000 Indian citizens and organizations worldwide. This activity, a part of the company’s global database of foreign targets, is causing widespread concern.
Zhenhua’s Monitoring Method
Zhenhua keeps track of its targets’ digital footprints using Artificial Intelligence tools across social media platforms. The company holds an extensive information library that includes not only news sources and forums, but also papers, patents, bidding documents, and even job openings.
Overview of Zhenhua’s Database
Known as the Overseas Key Information Database (OKIDB), Zhenhua’s database encompasses entries from several countries which include the USA, UK, Japan, Australia, Canada, Germany, and the UAE.
Targets of Zhenhua’s Monitoring
The company’s surveillance extends to individuals and institutions in various sectors such as politics, government, judiciary, art and sports, business, technology, media, and civil society.
The Company and China’s Government & Intelligence
Whilst Zhenhua lists the Chinese government, intelligentsia, and military among its clients, the Chinese government denies any involvement in or requests for data collection or provision of intelligence stored within other countries’ territories.
Implications of Zhenhua’s Operations
The information gathered by Zhenhua can potentially be employed for strategic purposes and intelligence services in China, aiding in hybrid warfare.
Legal Aspects of Zhenhua’s Monitoring
Zhenhua’s data monitoring practices do not fall under the purview of the Information Technology Rules, 2011, or the IT Act, 2000. These regulations only cover personal data and exclude information that is already available freely or accessible in the public domain. India is yet to establish a data protection law for safeguarding individual privacy and national security.
Impact on India-China Relations
The recent Indo-China conflict and subsequent banning of Chinese apps by India has strained relations between the two nations. In this context, Zhenhua’s information assets could provide China with strategic leverage over India.
About Hybrid Warfare
Hybrid warfare, central to the concerns surrounding Zhenhua’s operations, involves the use of non-military tools to exert dominance, inflict damage, subvert, or influence. Tools employed range from information pollution and perception management to propaganda.
Background of Hybrid Warfare
China has long explained the importance of hybrid warfare, dating back to 1999 when China’s People’s Liberation Army published “Unrestricted Warfare”. There are numerous reports regarding China’s attempts to gather sensitive military, intelligence, and economic information in the USA and Europe via social media. However, hybrid warfare isn’t exclusive to China – it was deployed in the 2006 Israel-Lebanon War by Hezbollah and by Russia in its 2014 annexation of Crimea.
Potential Threats of Hybrid Warfare
Hybrid warfare presents several threats, including cyber-attacks on key infrastructure and undermining of democratic systems. The information collected could also be used to incite social discord, which poses a significant threat to the unity of the country.
Suggested Solutions
To counter these risks, it is recommended that governments establish processes for national self-assessment and threat analysis. It’s crucial to handle hybrid threats as an international issue with the response coordinated among national governments. This would involve the development of multinational frameworks to facilitate cooperation and collaboration across borders.
