Data Berge Make Repression More Efficient, Expert Says

Author and researcher Penny Prinz has highlighted growing parallels in surveillance practices between Hong Kong and Germany. Prinz, who recently published the book "Nach der Revolte: Staatsmacht und Widerstand in Hongkong" (After the Revolt: State Power and Resistance in Hongkong), contrasts the countries' approaches to monitoring citizens and suppressing political opposition.

Prinz points out that vast amounts of data and advanced analytical tools enable state-sponsored repression more efficiently than ever before. According to her, this digital exercise of power transforms the relationship between police and citizens, especially as law enforcement gains access to new digital tools such as automated data analysis and facial recognition technology.

Prinz has also investigated the situation in Germany, where legislation is increasingly enabling the broader use of these technologies. She emphasizes that technological advancements are not confined to authoritarian states, noting similar trends in Western countries like Germany and the United States. Her political science research focuses on the transformation of political activism and the prosecution of citizens under laws concerning criminal associations.

Prinz shared her observations in an interview, emphasizing that she does not experience the same fear as those directly affected, as she can leave the country at any time. Her experiences in Hong Kong, where she spent six months observing surveillance and political repression, form the basis of her doctoral dissertation. She aims to raise awareness about digital security and the challenges facing civil society.