China-Africa Security Radar published on 13 July 2026 an article titled "Why This Chinese Surveillance Patent Matters for Africa's Future Policing Models."
South Africa granted a Chinese public security technology company with close ties to state security institutions a patent for algorithmic policing that could potentially shape the future of policing in Africa. The patent is for mapping relationships between people using digital traces, including text and social media. The rise of digital authoritarianism across parts of Africa raises the possibility for abuse of this technology.
