China’s ‘Catch Spies’ Campaign Fuels Online Vigilantism, Targets Foreigners and Students

State-driven messaging is fueling a nationwide wave of suspicion, with critics warning of a return to mass surveillance tactics.

Schoolchildren walk below surveillance cameras in Akto, in China's western Xinjiang region, on June 4, 2019. Greg Baker /AFP via Getty Images

A surge in state-backed messaging urging the public to report suspected spies is fueling a wave of online suspicion in China, with people increasingly viewing foreigners, students, and even ordinary photographers as potential threats.

Videos and commentary circulating on Chinese social media in recent weeks suggest that what began as a national security campaign is evolving into a broader culture of mutual surveillance—one that critics say risks stoking fear, misinformation, and social division.

A Campaign Gains Momentum

Since mid-April, Chinese authorities have intensified public messaging around counterespionage, with state media and online platforms amplifying warnings about foreign infiltration.

Several China-based analysts spoke to The Epoch Times on the topic on condition of anonymity out of fear of reprisal.

A China-based scholar told The Epoch Times that the scale and tone of the campaign have shifted noticeably.

“Since around April 15, propaganda about catching spies has flooded official propaganda media and social media platforms,” he said. “It’s no longer just about raising awareness. It’s turning into a mass movement driven by fear and suspicion.”

The scholar added that the trend has surprised some older-generation retired Chinese intellectuals who lived through earlier political campaigns.

“It’s reached an almost frenzied level online,” he said. “People who experienced the Cultural Revolution find this deeply unsettling.”

The scholar also questioned the timing of the push, noting that China currently hosts fewer foreigners than in previous years.

“Foreign teachers have largely left, and the number of foreigners has declined,” he said. “Yet the campaign is intensifying. It raises questions about whether this reflects a broader shift toward closing off from the outside world.”

In recent weeks, Chinese state security agencies have publicized a series of alleged espionage cases. Many of the reports lack specific details such as time and location, and some feature unusual or anecdotal scenarios.

Among the examples circulated online are ride-hailing drivers reporting “suspicious activity” and farmers confronting alleged border-crossing spies. The ambiguity of such cases has made it difficult for the public to assess their credibility.

A sociologist in China told The Epoch Times that the spread of these stories is affecting public judgment.

“People are sharing screenshots and case summaries, and ordinary activities, like photography or interactions with foreigners, are being linked directly to espionage,” he said. “Some foreign tourists and outdoor photographers are being treated as suspects. This atmosphere is creating anxiety.”

Universities Drawn Into the Campaign

The effects of the campaign are also being felt on university campuses, where administrators are tightening oversight of students’ online behavior.

At a university in Shandong Province, a staff member involved in recruitment told The Epoch Times the institution has begun implementing measures aligned with the broader anti-espionage push, including restrictions on the use of virtual private networks (VPNs).

“The University is emphasizing the need to catch spies,” the staff member said. “Foreign students have decreased compared to last year. The focus is mainly on American and German students, who are seen as more likely to teach Chinese students how to bypass internet controls.”

A notice circulating on social media appears to show how such policies are being enforced. It states that a student’s account was blacklisted and disabled after being flagged for “unsafe network behavior,” including possible use of VPNs.

According to the notice, students must undergo a review process led by their academic department and submit documentation for approval before their access can be restored. The process requires individuals to cooperate with investigations and proactively report to university officials.

A Beijing-based legal scholar warns that the campaign risks overstepping established boundaries.

He told The Epoch Times that safeguarding national security should rely on clear legal frameworks and professional standards—not vague administrative directives or collective responsibility mechanisms.

“The Chinese Communist Party’s use of administrative measures to restrict student behavior blurs legal boundaries,” the scholar said. “It also undermines the institutional foundations of universities as spaces for academic inquiry.”

Chen Chen contributed to this report.