ASPI Report Warns Venezuela May Adopt Chinese AI Surveillance System

The Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) warns that Venezuela may soon adopt China’s next‑generation artificial‑intelligence‑driven mass surveillance technology. According to the report, the Venezuelan government signed a memorandum of understanding with Chinese firm iFlytek in July 2025 to jointly develop AI capabilities. iFlytek has been listed on the U.S. trade sanctions roster since 2019 for its involvement in the repression of Muslim minorities in Xinjiang.

The agreement was negotiated by Delcy Rodríguez, who was vice president at the time and is now serving as Venezuela’s interim president. The analysis was authored by ASPI researchers Fergus Ryan, Bethany Allen and Nathan Attrill, together with external contributors Mariví Marín, Shannon van Sant and analyst Alex Colville, and was published in September 2026. The report was republished by Global Voices as part of its October 2026 Spotlight series on “Big Tech and Authoritarianism.”