No Exit: China’s State Surveillance over People Who Use Drugs

In China, although drug use is an administrative and not criminal offense, individuals detained by public security authorities are subject to coercive or compulsory “treatment,” which can include community-based detoxification and rehabilitation and two years of compulsory isolation. Individuals are...

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Main Authors: Mu Lin, Nina Sun, Joseph J. Amon
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Harvard FXB Center for Health and Human Rights 2022-06-01
Series:Health and Human Rights
Online Access:https://cdn1.sph.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/2469/2022/06/lin-amon.pdf
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author Mu Lin
Nina Sun
Joseph J. Amon
author_facet Mu Lin
Nina Sun
Joseph J. Amon
author_sort Mu Lin
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description In China, although drug use is an administrative and not criminal offense, individuals detained by public security authorities are subject to coercive or compulsory “treatment,” which can include community-based detoxification and rehabilitation and two years of compulsory isolation. Individuals are also entered into a system called the Drug User Internet Dynamic Control and Early Warning System, or simply the Dynamic Control System. The Dynamic Control System, run by the Ministry of Public Security, acts as an extension of China’s drug control efforts by monitoring the movement of people in the system and alerting police when individuals, for example, use their identity documents when registering at a hotel, conducting business at a government office or bank, registering a mobile phone, applying for tertiary education, or traveling. This alert typically results in an interrogation and a drug test by police. This paper seeks to summarize, using published government reports, news articles, and academic papers, what is known about the Dynamic Control System, focusing on the procedures of (1) registration; (2) management; and (3) exit. At each step, people subject to the Dynamic Control System face human rights concerns, especially related to the right to privacy, rights to education and work, and right to health.
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spelling doaj.art-87f939d0904f4875ad0828f5ad11140a2022-12-22T03:30:51ZengHarvard FXB Center for Health and Human RightsHealth and Human Rights2150-41132022-06-01241135146No Exit: China’s State Surveillance over People Who Use DrugsMu Lin0Nina SunJoseph J. AmonIndependent consultant based in Beijing, China.In China, although drug use is an administrative and not criminal offense, individuals detained by public security authorities are subject to coercive or compulsory “treatment,” which can include community-based detoxification and rehabilitation and two years of compulsory isolation. Individuals are also entered into a system called the Drug User Internet Dynamic Control and Early Warning System, or simply the Dynamic Control System. The Dynamic Control System, run by the Ministry of Public Security, acts as an extension of China’s drug control efforts by monitoring the movement of people in the system and alerting police when individuals, for example, use their identity documents when registering at a hotel, conducting business at a government office or bank, registering a mobile phone, applying for tertiary education, or traveling. This alert typically results in an interrogation and a drug test by police. This paper seeks to summarize, using published government reports, news articles, and academic papers, what is known about the Dynamic Control System, focusing on the procedures of (1) registration; (2) management; and (3) exit. At each step, people subject to the Dynamic Control System face human rights concerns, especially related to the right to privacy, rights to education and work, and right to health.https://cdn1.sph.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/2469/2022/06/lin-amon.pdf
spellingShingle Mu Lin
Nina Sun
Joseph J. Amon
No Exit: China’s State Surveillance over People Who Use Drugs
Health and Human Rights
title No Exit: China’s State Surveillance over People Who Use Drugs
title_full No Exit: China’s State Surveillance over People Who Use Drugs
title_fullStr No Exit: China’s State Surveillance over People Who Use Drugs
title_full_unstemmed No Exit: China’s State Surveillance over People Who Use Drugs
title_short No Exit: China’s State Surveillance over People Who Use Drugs
title_sort no exit china s state surveillance over people who use drugs
url https://cdn1.sph.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/2469/2022/06/lin-amon.pdf
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