Responses to Information Requests

​​​​​​​Responses to Information Requests (RIRs) are research reports on country conditions. They are requested by IRB decision-makers.

The database contains a seven-year archive of English and French RIRs. Earlier RIRs may be found on the European Country of Origin Information Network website.

RIR​s published by the IRB on its website may have attachments that are inaccessible due to technical constraints and may include translations of documents originally written in languages other than English or French. To obtain a copy of such attachments and/or translated version of the RIR attachments, please email us.​

Related Links

Disclaimer

Disclaimer

Responses to Information Requests (RIRs) cite publicly accessible information available at the time of publication and within time constraints. A list of references and additional sources consulted are included in each RIR. Sources cited are considered the most current information available as of the date of the RIR.            

RIRs are not, and do not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Rather, they are intended to support the refugee determination process. More information on the methodology used by the Research Directorate can be found here.          

The assessment and weight to be given to the information in the RIRs are the responsibility of independent IRB members (decision-makers) after considering the evidence and arguments presented by the parties.           

The information presented in RIRs solely reflects the views and perspectives of the sources cited and does not necessarily reflect the position of the IRB or the Government of Canada.          

8 May 2007

CHN102493.E

China: Whether a person detained at an underground church meeting would have his or her name placed in the Public Security Bureau (PSB) database
Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

In 26 March 2007 correspondence sent to the Research Directorate, a representative of the New York-based organization Human Rights in China (HRIC) stated that

[o]nce a person has been rounded up in a church raid, he'll be known to local officials, who will also mark him as a recidivist if he pops up in future raids. ... It is very likely that a person detained at an underground church meeting would be entered into the [Public Security Bureau (PSB)] database.

According to the Representative, China's security databases are becoming "increasingly comprehensive" (HRIC 26 Mar. 2006).

In 2003, the PSB established its "Golden Shield" program, designed to monitor and collect information on Chinese citizens (Reuters 7 Apr. 2006; see also CQ Transcriptions 15 Feb. 2006; Legal Affairs Jan.-Feb. 2006). "Policenet," which is part of the program, reportedly allows PSB officers to access a Chinese citizen's work history, financial information, and law enforcement records from a central database (Legal Affairs Jan.-Feb. 2006; see also CQ Transcriptions 19 Apr. 2006). Other types of personal information accessible to PSB officers through "Policenet" include political activities of citizens, as well as family background, internet surfing history, and fingerprints (CQ 19 Apr. 2006; Taipei Times 1 Sept. 2005). Photographs and other images are also apparently stored in the database (Taipei Times 1 Sept. 2005; see also CQ Transcriptions 15 Feb. 2006).

Since the implementation of China's "Golden Shield" program, the PSB has reportedly collected information on more than 96 percent of the country's population (Reuters 7 Apr. 2006; CQ Transcriptions 19 Apr. 2006). Sources consulted indicate that, with the exception of the province of Sichuan, the "Policenet" system has been introduced in all of China's 22 provinces (Taipei Times 1 Sept. 2005; see Legal Affairs Jan.-Feb. 2006).

Officials in the PSB's State Council Leadership Team for Preventing and Monitoring Cults Tianjin [northeast China] branch reportedly keep a database containing over 30,000 names of Falun Gong practitioners, as well as names of persons belonging to other banned religious groups (Independent On Sunday 10 Sept. 2006). Some of the data on these persons has apparently been drawn from the country's hukou registration system, which is being digitized under the "Golden Shield" program (ibid.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Congressional Quarterly (CQ) Transcriptions. 19 April 2006. Statement of Ethan Gutmann. "Human Rights in China - Ethan Gutmann Author, Losing the New China." (Factiva)

_____. 15 February 2006. Statement of Harry Wu. "Operating Procedures of US Internet Companies in China - Harry Wu." (Factiva)

Human Rights in China (HRIC). 26 March 2007. Correspondence sent to the Research Directorate.

Independent On Sunday [London]. 10 September 2006. Bruce Einhorn and Ben Elgin. "Chinese Whisper." (Factiva)

Legal Affairs. January-February 2006. Derek Bambauer. "Cool Tools for Tyrants." <http://www.legalaffairs.org/issues/January-February-2006/feature_ bambauer_janfeb06.msp> [Accessed 19 Mar. 2007]

Reuters. 7 April 2006. "Big Brother Is Watching, Recording in China." (CMP Media Inc./Factiva)

Taipei Times. 1 September 2005. Shih Hsiu-chuan. "Beware Cisco's Example in China, Author Warns." <http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2005/09/01/2003269988> [Accessed 19 Mar. 2007]

Additional Sources Consulted

Internet sites, including: Amnesty International (AI), British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), China Aid Association, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), Dui Hua Foundation, European Country of Origin Information Network (ecoi.net), Factiva, Forum 18, Human Rights in China (HRIC), Human Rights Watch (HRW), United Kingdom Home Office, United States - Congressional Executive Commission on China (CECC), United States Department of State.

​​
​​

​​​