Chinese factories set on fire and at least 38 killed in Myanmar's deadliest day since coup
Myanmar security forces killed at least 38 people Sunday in one of the deadliest days since the military seized power in a coup, and declared martial law in six areas after Chinese-funded factories were set on fire.
The heaviest casualties were in an industrial suburb of the largest city Yangon, where military and police opened fire on unarmed protesters, killing at least 22, according to the advocacy group the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), which said Hlaingthaya district "became like a battlefield."
At least 16 people were killed in other regions around the country on Sunday, including in the second city of Mandalay and in Bago, where state media said a police officer had died of a chest wound after a confrontation with protesters. This is the second policeman reported dead in the protests.
The Chinese Embassy in Myanmar said several Chinese-funded factories were smashed and set ablaze in Yangon's industrial zone during protests Sunday.
People walk in a street full of water bags to be used against tear gas, during an anti-coup protest at Hledan junction in Yangon "China urges Myanmar to take further effective measures to stop all acts of violence, punish the perpetrators in accordance with the law and ensure the safety of life and property of Chinese companies and personnel in Myanmar," according to the embassy statement.
Smoke rises as protests against military coup and detention of elected government members continue in Hlaingtharya Township While China has not outright condemned the military takeover, it backed a United Nations Security Council statement saying it "strongly condemns the violence against peaceful protestors" and called on the military to "exercise utmost restraint."
In its statement Sunday, China called on protesters in Myanmar to express their demands lawfully and to not undermine bilateral ties with China.
Kohler and BMW collected consumers face data illegally
Outlets of Kohler and MaxMara in Shanghai were found secretly capturing and collecting consumers' information via face recognition cameras, China Central Television's annual “3.15” quality investigation program reported on Monday night. The program is broadcast every March 15 — World Consumer Rights Day, A Kohler outlet inside a branch of Home Value, a Shanghai-based home decoration chain, was found to have installed face recognition cameras which can capture and record information such as frequency of visits. A Kohler China staff member said such cameras were installed at other outlets of the company and that they enabled any Kohler outlet to be fully prepared when they receive and quote a consumer who visited other outlets.
Face recognition cameras installed at a BMW 4S shop Information safety regulations released by the State Administration for Market Regulation state that face information is sensitive personal information, and collecting personal information needs to obtain the authorization and permission of owners. CCTV said such face recognition cameras were seen at three outlets of Kohler in Shanghai in its undercover investigation, with consumers unaware of them. A manager at Suzhou Wandianzhang Network Technology Co in Jiangsu Province which supplied the cameras to Kohler said all outlets of Kohler across the country had these cameras. A reporter found his face captured three times within two minutes when visiting a Kohler outlet and he was marked with the same information code.
"People are not aware their faces are captured, each with an ID," said the manager surnamed Chen. "The recognition rate is 95 percent for those who don't wear face masks, and 80 to 85 percent for people with masks," said Chen. Capture is real-time and the information contains age, nationality and even whether the consumers are in a calm mood based on analysis, the report said. The company's cameras were also spotted at an outlet of MaxMara inside Grand Gateway 66 in Xuhui District, according to the report.
A manager at the company said it had collected more than 100 million pieces of face data. Shanghai-based Ulucu, an electronic science and technology company, was found to be supplying such cameras to a 4S shop of BMW in Shenzhen in the report. A manager at Yaliang Business Intelligence Technology (Guangzhou) Co, another camera supplier, said tags are attached for different consumers and some "special groups" such as competitors, whistleblowers and reporters can even be blacklisted after their information is collected, the report revealed. 科勒卫浴、宝马等知名品牌商店安装人脸识别摄像头海量信息已被搜集 “3•15”晚会调查发现一些家装企业、汽车4S店、超市等商户在消费者不知情的情况下，违规利用人脸识别技术，通过监控摄像头追踪消费者行程，记录消费者信息。 记者在全国多地先后调查了20多家装有人脸识别系统的商户，所到之处，人脸识别信息均被偷偷获取，没有一个商家明确告知，征得同意更是无从谈起。 在无锡宝马汽车4S店记者发现了瑞为公司的人脸识别摄像头。在港汇恒隆Max Mara专卖店，记者看到了万店掌公司的摄像头。 此外，科勒卫浴也在全国上千家门店安装了具有人脸识别功能的摄像头。 据悉，这种摄像头抓取的信息包括性别、年龄等在内的个人信息。 消费者只要进了其中一家店，在不知情的情况下，就会被摄像头抓取并自动生成编号，以后顾客再去哪家店，去了几次，科勒卫浴都会知道。 该摄像头系统生产商“万店掌”介绍，能通过人脸识别信息解决精准营销，抓取的人脸数据信息累计上亿。 人脸信息属于个人独有的生物识别信息，一旦泄露，将严重威胁用户的财产安全、隐私安全等。
Huawei, Hikvision Land on New Blacklist From U.S. Telecoms Regulator
US regulators on Friday listed Huawei among Chinese telecom gear firms deemed a threat to national security, signalling that a hoped for softening of relations is not in the cards. A roster of communications companies thought to pose "an unacceptable risk" to national security included Huawei Technologies; ZTE; Hytera Communications; Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology, and Dahua Technology. "This list is a big step toward restoring trust in our communications networks," said Federal Communications Commission acting chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. "This list provides meaningful guidance that will ensure that as next-generation networks are built across the country, they do not repeat the mistakes of the past or use equipment or services that will pose a threat to US national security or the security and safety of Americans."
The five Chinese companies that provide communications equipment or services were on a roster compiled by the FCC and the Homeland Security Bureau as per US law. Huawei chief and founder Ren Zhengfei last month called for a reset with the United States under President Joe Biden, after the firm was battered by sanctions imposed by Donald Trump's administration. In his first appearance before journalists in a year, Ren Zhengfei said his "confidence in Huawei's ability to survive has grown" despite its travails across much of the western world where it is maligned as a potential security threat.
The comments came as the firm struggled under rules that have effectively banned US firms from selling it technology such as semiconductors and other critical components, citing national security concerns. Insisting that Huawei remained strong and ready to buy from US companies, Ren called on the Biden White House for a "mutually beneficial" change of tack that could restore its access to the goods. Continuing to do so, he warned, would hurt US suppliers.