“Searching” (actually just destroying) their home (with a warrant of course).
Taking them to a police station for a “talk” or arresting them for a bogus (but legal) reason, and them releasing them, repeatedly.
“Finding” some crimes that these relatives committed that only the state can prove such as tax evasion, money laundering, etc.
Making so that they can’t get a job at government institutions (or any company that receives government funding).
Setting bureaucratic roadblocks when they need to interact with the state in some way (if they need to some kind of permit or a license from the government they kiss it goodbye).
Instigating doxxing and bullying campaign on social media (a more recent practice).
Plainly paying someone to beat them up on the street (which the police of course will fail to investigate).
He got mad at me for texting him an anti-CCP joke (both US Phone Numbers)
He’s right to be concerned. You should be using Signal far any communication you don’t want sucked into a mass-surveillance system (i.e. most communication). He might not want to have Signal installed when he enters China though.
Okay so obviously the government is in the wrong, but texting him about it does seem in bad taste. We aren’t in the 90s anymore, you should at least try to be careful. They definitely can get access to what you are texting. I have trouble trusting even a VPN, personally.
How does a government harrass a relative?
Any concrete example?
“Searching” (actually just destroying) their home (with a warrant of course).
Taking them to a police station for a “talk” or arresting them for a bogus (but legal) reason, and them releasing them, repeatedly.
“Finding” some crimes that these relatives committed that only the state can prove such as tax evasion, money laundering, etc.
Making so that they can’t get a job at government institutions (or any company that receives government funding).
Setting bureaucratic roadblocks when they need to interact with the state in some way (if they need to some kind of permit or a license from the government they kiss it goodbye).
Instigating doxxing and bullying campaign on social media (a more recent practice).
Plainly paying someone to beat them up on the street (which the police of course will fail to investigate).
The possibilities are endless.
My family are former Chinese nationals.
Supposedly if you say bad stuff about the PRC government / CCP, they could go after your family members.
My brother is planing to visit China in the near future.
He got mad at me for texting him an anti-CCP joke (both US Phone Numbers) (he’s also ideologically anti-CCP tho).
He accused me of intentionally trying to cause trouble for him.
He’s right to be concerned. You should be using Signal far any communication you don’t want sucked into a mass-surveillance system (i.e. most communication). He might not want to have Signal installed when he enters China though.
Okay so obviously the government is in the wrong, but texting him about it does seem in bad taste. We aren’t in the 90s anymore, you should at least try to be careful. They definitely can get access to what you are texting. I have trouble trusting even a VPN, personally.