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We provide translation of news in English from local media and other sources, for academic use.
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#MassSurveillance
Facial Recognition System for Uyghurs Identification, Alibaba: Ethnic Marking Function Has Been Removed

One of the leading technology companies in China Alibaba developed a facial recognition system, which was revealed a few days ago that it can identify Uyghurs in Xinjiang, arousing doubts from outsides. Alibaba announced in a statement today (18th December) that they will no longer allow its products to target and identify specific ethnic group again. They also feel "dismayed" that the facial recognition system includes ethnic recognition function, and the ethnic recognition function has already been deleted in all products.

Although AI technology has brought lots of life benefits, there are also opportunities to be abused and even violate human rights. IP Video Market (IPVM) discovered on the website of Alibaba that it demonstrates the function of the facial recognition system for Uyghurs or other minorities, with detail instructions for use. The website introduced that the user can easily upload the pictures or videos, and the system then can determine whether people in the photos or videos are Uyghurs. However, after IPVM inquired, that related information has already been deleted by Alibaba.

Source: Stand News #Dec18

https://bit.ly/34GCBfh

#China #Alibaba #Uyghurs #minority #Freedom #humanrights #IPVM #Facialrecognition
#CulturalGenocide
China Pushes 85% of Population Speaking Putonghua by 2025 Even Among Ethnic Minorities

The #PRCgovernment is stepping up efforts to popularize #Putonghua in China, claiming that the use of putonghua remains “unbalanced and inadequate” and needs to be improved to meet the demands of the modern economy.

For the first time, the #PRC government named the two Special Administrative Regions, #HongKong and #Macau, for the new policy.

On November 30, the General Office of the State Council issued a set of new policies on language for #PRC, “Opinions of the General Office of the State Council on Comprehensively Strengthening Language and Writing Work in the New Era (關於全面加強新時代語言文字工作的意見)”.

The policy stressed the importance of speaking and using a standardized language, saying that the authorities will “unswervingly" promote the usage among ethnic minorities and in rural areas.

It also set a goal for the national penetration rate of Putonghua to reach 85% by 2025. Along with the 2025 goal, the policy aims to make Putonghua virtually universal by 2035, including in rural areas and among #EthnicMinorities.

The media described the new order as an “aggressive push” to the Chinese regional dialects such as #Cantonese and #Hokkien under even greater pressure, along with #minority languages such as #Tibetan, #Mongolian and #Uyghur.

Critics have protested the changes to the education system and employment requirements that have steadily eroded the role of minority languages. They call it a campaign to eradicate cultures that do not conform with the dominant ethnic group.

#CCP #China #MotherTongue #Language #Assimilation

Source: RFA #Dec2; Bloomberg, #Dec1
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