Handling COVID-19 with big data in China: increasing ‘governance capacity’ or ‘function creep’?

Building a national system of social governance (guojia zhili tixi), which is the long-running dream Xi Jinping, has triggered creation China’s ‘smart state’ using tools new information technologies to advance capacity (zhili nengli). These systems were already deployed nationally when COVID-19 pandemic hit China, but connected at lesser capacity, targeting specific domains security, industry or government administration. In response crisis, multiple have been merged, exceeding scope their originally intended functions. This known as function creep, surveillant remain functional past achievement purpose, assemblages, where are combined. As more countries turn digitalisation increase public security and intensify market governance, expansion functions in China now-palpable effects on people’s lives raises pressing questions for scholars decision-makers alike.