Privacy and personal information protection in China's all-seeing state.

This article examines the widespread deployment of artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled facial recognition technology (FRT) in China's public and private sectors, focusing on the regulatory, societal, and ethical challenges it raises, particularly regarding privacy and personal information (PI) protection. It outlines China's evolving legal framework—including the Civil Code (CC), Cybersecurity Law (CSL), and Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL)—highlighting progress made and existing gaps such as unclear definitions of biometric data, lack of mandatory prior authorization for FRT deployment, and limited individual legal recourse for privacy violations. The article also discusses cultural factors influencing Chinese attitudes toward privacy, noting a general willingness to trade privacy for security and convenience, alongside emerging public concerns exemplified by several high-profile cases. It concludes by recommending greater transparency, multi-disciplinary expert involvement, and the adoption of an adaptive governance framework to balance technological innovation with fundamental rights protection.