Beijing [China], September 17 (ANI): A massive leak of over 100,000 documents has exposed China’s Geedge Networks, a company allegedly supplying censorship and surveillance tools to governments worldwide, The Epoch Times reported.
The exposure highlights China’s influence in exporting digital authoritarianism, sparking debates on cybersecurity, human rights, and global internet governance.
Geedge, founded by Fang Binxing, known as the “Father of China’s Great Firewall,” has contracts with countries including Kazakhstan, Ethiopia, Pakistan, Myanmar, and authorities in Xinjiang, a region criticized for heavy surveillance and human rights violations. According to The Epoch Times, Bill Xia, president of Dynamic Internet Technology (DIT), stated that the release of the documents was intentional and likely originated from within the company, exposing how authoritarian regimes control online content and monitor citizens.
Founded in 2001, Xia’s DIT is known for developing Freegate and other software that allows Chinese internet users to bypass the Great Firewall. He described the leak as a “devastating” blow to Geedge, predicting it would erode trust among employees and reveal sensitive internal practices.
Leaked files show Geedge’s attempts to reverse-engineer circumvention tools and deploy deep packet inspection (DPI) technologies, raising concerns about the global spread of digital repression and its long-term consequences for online freedoms. The documents include correspondence, meeting notes, technical blueprints, reimbursement systems, and personnel information. Researchers at InterSecLab, who analyzed the data, confirmed Geedge’s contracts with governments in Kazakhstan, Ethiopia, Pakistan, Myanmar, and one unnamed country, as well as authorities in Xinjiang.
The files reveal Geedge’s efforts to reverse-engineer circumvention tools, particularly open-source software. While open-source projects are often praised for collaboration, Xia argued they are easier for surveillance firms to dissect and block. He added that most VPNs cannot truly bypass China’s Great Firewall, as the protocols are easily restricted.
Xia noted that the documents will help developers of internet freedom technologies better understand the mechanisms used to stifle online access. He highlighted that Geedge’s client list demonstrates a consistent trend: authoritarian governments in developing nations are the main consumers of such censorship systems. “Only the Chinese Communist Party can enforce such controls while simultaneously advancing its economy,” he said.
The leak is one of the largest exposures yet of China’s censorship export industry, raising questions about the global spread of digital repression and its long-term consequences for internet freedom, The Epoch Times reported. (ANI)
About The Author
