Facial Recognition Ties San Francisco Counterprotestors to CCP Affiliates

A pair of human rights groups have used facial recognition technology to identify the alleged assailants involved in attacks on anti-CCP demonstrators during Xi Jinping’s visit to San Francisco for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit last year.

For a new report produced by human-rights groups including Students for a Free Tibet (SFT) and the Hong Kong Democracy Council (HKDC), researchers analyzed photographs and videos of the assaults. By cross-referencing these with media reports and websites of united-front organizations, they identified several U.S.-based community organizations linked to Beijing’s political-influence operations.

The comprehensive analysis by the advocacy groups uncovered 34 instances in which pro-Beijing demonstrators harassed and assaulted anti-CCP activists, causing severe injuries. The report suggests that these actions were coordinated by Chinese state and Communist Party organs. The groups hope that this report will prompt a federal investigation into the attacks and raise awareness among law enforcement about the tactics employed by CCP-affiliated organizations.

The report highlighted the involvement of various U.S.-based groups with ties to Chinese united-front entities, such as the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese and the China Overseas Friendship Association. Some groups had traveled from different parts of the U.S., coordinated by China’s diplomatic corps.

The report also included emails indicating that the Chinese consulate in Los Angeles had mobilized the Chinese Students and Scholars Association for the demonstrations, covering all travel expenses and advising secrecy about their mission.

During the four-day period of the protests, local law enforcement in San Francisco seldom intervened, although the FBI has since conducted some interviews with victims. However, it remains unclear if a broader criminal investigation is ongoing.

Source: National Review

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July 31, 2024 – by Ali Nassar-Smith