“zhāng láng蟑螂”kàng yì抗议yǔ与shù zì数字jiān kòng监控
An Indian official compared unemployed young people to cockroaches, so young people used this label to launch an online movement.
They initially protested exam cheating and problems in education, and later also demanded that the government address unemployment and take responsibility.
Short-video and social media platforms enabled people across the country to quickly unite. Online jokes turned into street action, helping to bring about the resignation of an education official and the withdrawal of some police cases.
However, digital tools also bring new dangers.
When police dispersed protesters, they used not only water cannons and batons, but also cameras and facial-recognition systems to record participants.
The system even mistakenly identified people who were in prison as members of the crowd at the scene.
People taking part in lawful protests may therefore leave long-term digital records and later face investigations or other negative consequences.
Digital technology helps ordinary people speak out and document police actions on the one hand, but on the other hand it also makes it easier for governments to monitor citizens.
To protect freedom of assembly and expression, society must clearly define what information police may collect, how long they may keep it, and how citizens can challenge errors or improper use.