10. April 2026

Prof. Dr. Xuewu Gu in the Handelsblatt Prof. Dr. Xuewu Gu in the Handelsblatt

The Expansion of the Surveillance State in Iran

Political scientist and China expert Prof. Dr. Xuewu Gu was interviewed about Sino-Iranian cooperation in this field in the article “A Surveillance State Modeled on China’s,” written by Martin Benninghoff and published in the Handelsblatt on April 6.

 

Xi Jinping and Ali Khamenei
Xi Jinping and Ali Khamenei © Khamenei.ir
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The article examines the expansion of the digital surveillance state in Iran. In doing so, the regime relies in particular on Chinese technologies such as video surveillance and facial recognition. This is complemented by authoritarian measures such as internet censorship and the development of its own “Great Firewall.” These tools serve primarily to control and repress the population, particularly in the context of protest movements. It remains unclear, however, whether China is currently continuing to provide such technologies. In this context, Xuewu Gu points out that China may act more cautiously and with greater risk awareness when selecting its international partners in the future.

You can find the article featuring the insights of Prof. Dr. Xuewu Gu here.

Prof. Dr. Xuewu Gu is a member of the CASSIS Center Council.

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