We Have Been Harmonized

We Have Been Harmonized examines China's transformation into a digital surveillance state under Xi Jinping's leadership. The book details how the Chinese Communist Party has leveraged technology, artificial intelligence, and big data to create comprehensive systems of social control. Through interviews and on-the-ground reporting, Strittmatter documents the implementation of social credit scores, facial recognition networks, and digital monitoring tools across Chinese society. The author draws on his years as a foreign correspondent in China to trace the rapid evolution of these surveillance mechanisms and their impact on daily life. The narrative outlines how Chinese tech companies collaborate with the government to collect and analyze massive amounts of citizen data. Strittmatter explores the origins of China's digital authoritarianism while following key developments in technology policy and implementation. The book raises fundamental questions about privacy, human rights, and the future relationship between citizens and state power in an age of ubiquitous digital surveillance. Strittmatter's account serves as both a case study of modern China and a warning about the potential global implications of these technological systems.

Readers describe this as an eye-opening examination of China's digital surveillance state and social control systems. Many note it provides clear examples of how technology enables government monitoring and behavior modification of citizens. Readers appreciated: - Detailed research and first-hand accounts - Clear explanation of complex surveillance technologies - Balance between technical details and human stories - Author's experience as long-time China correspondent Common criticisms: - Repetitive points in later chapters - Focus on negative aspects without balanced perspective - Some sections feel disorganized - Translation is occasionally awkward One reader noted: "It reads like a Black Mirror episode, but it's happening now." Another said: "The personal stories make the scale of control hit home." Ratings: Goodreads: 4.3/5 (2,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (1,300+ ratings) LibraryThing: 4.2/5 (200+ ratings) Most impactful for readers who knew little about China's surveillance capabilities and social credit system.

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🔍 Author Kai Strittmatter spent over 30 years studying China and speaks fluent Mandarin, having lived in Beijing as a foreign correspondent for over a decade. 🏛️ The book's title comes from a euphemism used by Chinese officials when they've successfully "reeducated" or brought dissidents in line with Party thinking. 📱 The social credit system described in the book was partly inspired by Western credit scoring systems, but expanded to include social and political behavior. 🤖 The surveillance systems detailed in the book can track over 2.5 billion faces simultaneously and match them with personal data in seconds. 🎮 Chinese tech companies mentioned in the book, like Tencent and Alibaba, collect more personal data points on their users in a single day than American companies like Facebook collect in a month.