A report by Human Rights Watch describes the surveillance tactics used against citizens between the ages of 12 and 65 in China’s far-west territory, including the collection of DNA, fingerprints, iris scans and blood types, CNN reports. Residents of Xinjiang have long been subject to increased surveillance, according to HRW, but have recently seen a push by the government for their biometric data to improve access to health care. Sophie Richardson, HRW’s China director, calls the collection “a gross violation of international human rights.” She added, "In this context, compulsory biodata collection has particularly abusive potential, and hardly seems justifiable as a security measure."
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