Artificial intelligence, big data and autonomous systems along the belt and road: towards private security companies with Chinese characteristics?

Abstract

China is pressing ahead with ambitious plans to create a massive infrastructure network connecting it with many countries across the globe. Some of the ‘belt and road’ infrastructure will however, run through regions convulsed by chronic civil unrest, substantial criminality and incipient insurgencies and need protection by China’s private security companies. Simultaneously the Chinese state is undertaking a major ‘anti-secession and counter-terrorism’ campaign in Xinjiang using a variety of high-technology means: artificial intelligence, big data, wireless connectivity, autonomous systems and robotics. The demand and supply sides seem to be in sync, suggesting Chinese private security companies will soon use a suite of advanced information technology systems with a proven employment doctrine across much of Central Asia, South Asia and Africa. Such a future may be plausible but it is by no means certain as various factors may yet thwart China’s private security companies.