A Chinese company has pursued artificial intelligence technology designed to predict individuals who might become critics of the government, according to new research released on Monday.

The effort centers on Geedge, a firm whose internal documents were analyzed by Vanderbilt University researchers. The materials show attempts to create systems that combine location tracking and internet activity data to identify people likely to express criticism of authorities in the future.

This predictive approach goes beyond traditional monitoring of known dissidents. It aims to flag potential risks preemptively through AI analysis of behavioral patterns.

U.S. export restrictions on advanced technology have complicated the company's work, according to the researchers. The documents detail ongoing struggles to advance the capabilities under those constraints.

The development fits into China's broader expansion of AI-driven surveillance and censorship tools. Reports from other organizations have documented AI systems that scan online content, flag violations, and remove material in seconds while supporting human reviewers for nuanced judgments.

Such technologies enhance the Chinese Communist Party's control over information and public behavior. They also raise concerns about the reach of authoritarian governance into personal data and future actions.

The Vanderbilt findings, based on company records, provide a window into how Chinese entities continue to refine these systems despite external pressures.