Researcher Uncovers Publicly Exposed Chinese Database Tracking Foreign Residents Including Israelis

A cybersecurity researcher discovered a publicly accessible Chinese government website that collected extensive personal data on nearly 12,000 foreign residents in China, including hundreds of journalists and Israeli nationals. The platform, reportedly designed for the Public Security Bureau of Zhangjiakou city, contained detailed information such as surveillance footage from public places, hospital visits, fuel purchases, travel records, and demographic data like nationality, gender, marital status, and profession.

Mark Hooper, a cyber researcher and journalist based in Amsterdam, found the site during routine internet research and shared his findings with The New York Times. The exposed database included data from multiple police stations and tracked foreigners from countries including Australia, Canada, the UK, the US, and "key countries" like Israel, Egypt, Iran, Morocco, Pakistan, and Sudan. It also contained information on residents from Hong Kong and Taiwan.

The platform’s existence highlights the vast surveillance apparatus employed by Chinese authorities, integrating facial recognition, medical records, and financial data to monitor foreign residents’ movements and activities. Hooper was shocked to find his own personal data in the system, likely due to his previous work in China. The database was left publicly accessible without proper security, with login credentials pre-filled on the entry page, allowing unrestricted access for months until it was taken offline in May 2026.

This exposure reveals the scale and depth of China’s monitoring of foreign nationals within its borders, raising concerns about privacy and state surveillance practices targeting not only Chinese citizens but also international residents and visitors.