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Freedom251 › Blog › China

China’s Sharp Eyes (Xueliang) Project: Goals, Design and Legal Context

By Freedom251 Team · · 3 min read

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China’s Sharp Eyes Project, also called the Xueliang Project (雪亮工程), is a public-security surveillance initiative described in research reports as aiming to extend video monitoring, particularly in rural areas. Reports say its design connects existing public-security camera networks with privately owned cameras and involves residents in community-level monitoring. Those accounts describe goals and design—not proof that every public space is covered or that the project reached its reported nationwide target.

What is China’s Sharp Eyes Project?

“Sharp Eyes” is the English rendering of 雪亮工程, or Xueliang Project. Research by Georgetown University’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology describes it as an initiative seeking broad, real-time surveillance coverage, with an emphasis on rural areas. The account identifies community-driven grid management and citizen participation as distinguishing features, including an effort to put some surveillance capabilities in residents’ hands. CSET’s 2020 analysis describes the program’s design; it does not establish that participation is universal or implemented uniformly across China.

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How is the program described as working?

Combining camera networks

Amnesty International describes Sharp Eyes as seeking to connect existing public-security camera networks with privately owned cameras, including cameras at residential and other building entrances. The reported approach therefore spans more than government-installed cameras: it is presented as a way to make different camera sources available within public-security monitoring networks. The reports describe a design, not a current inventory of connected cameras or proof that every privately owned system is linked. Amnesty International’s 2020 report attributes the planned integration to the project.

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Community participation

CSET’s account highlights community-level grid management and citizen participation as part of the initiative’s rural emphasis. This points to a model in which surveillance is not limited to centralized camera infrastructure; some monitoring capability is described as reaching into communities. The source does not show that every resident participates or specify a single nationwide operating arrangement.

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Was nationwide “full coverage” achieved?

Amnesty International reports that the 2020 rollout goal was “full coverage, network sharing, real-time availability, and full control.” That wording is a target attributed to the program, not a verified outcome. The sources cited here do not establish that complete nationwide coverage was achieved, give a current coverage percentage, or provide a current official Sharp Eyes deployment inventory.

Figures sometimes cited for China’s overall surveillance-camera population should not be treated as Sharp Eyes totals: they do not, by themselves, identify cameras belonging to this initiative. Establishing local implementation or present-day coverage would require locality-specific documentation or more recent independent reporting.

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How do video surveillance and facial recognition differ?

A camera system can collect video without necessarily identifying people through facial recognition. China’s facial-recognition rules address biometric identification in particular; their existence does not establish that facial recognition is deployed on every Sharp Eyes camera. Likewise, rules for public-security video systems provide a national framework but do not document the project’s deployment status.

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What rules apply in China from 2025?

Public-security video systems

The State Council’s Regulations on the Administration of Public Security Video Image Information Systems took effect on April 1, 2025. They define these systems as those that collect, transmit, display and store video-image information in areas related to public security. The regulation says construction and use must comply with laws and regulations and follow principles including coordinated planning, reasonable proportionality, standards guidance, security and controllability, while not harming the lawful rights and interests of individuals or organizations. It sets national context for public-security video systems; it does not report how many Sharp Eyes cameras are operating.

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Facial recognition in public places

The Cyberspace Administration of China’s Measures for the Security Management of Applications of Facial Recognition Technology were published on March 21, 2025, and took effect on June 1, 2025. Article 13 requires facial-recognition devices in public places to be necessary for maintaining public security, limits collection areas to what is reasonably determined, and requires prominent notices. It also bars installing such devices in specified private spaces, including hotel rooms, public baths, changing rooms and toilets.

These provisions concern facial-recognition devices and do not prove that every camera is biometric-enabled or that all systems comply uniformly. In a March 28, 2025 announcement, the Cyberspace Administration, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Public Security and the market regulator listed public-place facial-recognition practices among personal-information-protection enforcement priorities, citing issues including notice, consent, encryption and impact assessments. The announcement states priorities; it is not an account of enforcement outcomes. Read the announcement.

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  • 【Reliable 24/7 Continuous Recording】With a pre-installed 1TB HDD(Support up to 10TB HDD), providing 24/7 surveillance recording for you. Upgraded H.265+ saves more storage space and uses less bandwidth, recording videos longer and smoother viewing.
  • 【Smart Dual-Light Effectively Guard Your Home】This newly upgraded security system offers you a crisp full color night vision, IR mode and color night vision switch flexibly. Once detect intruders, immediate pushes pop up on your phone, securing your peace of mind day&night.
  • 【Color Night Vision & IP67 Weatherproof】Built-in IR lights and white lights, these cameras can see up to 100ft in B&W night vision, full-color night vision up to 66ft. Rated IP67, these wired cameras can brave all weather, and stand from cold to hot.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

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