Recently, Mr. Chen, a resident of Xiamen, received a text message from the traffic police notifying him of the cancellation of his driver’s license after purchasing quick-acting heart pills online, raising concerns once again about the official use of big data to monitor public issues.
According to reports from mainland Chinese media, Mr. Chen in Xiamen posted a video stating that after purchasing the quick-acting heart pills online, he received a reminder message from the traffic management department about canceling his driver’s license.
The message indicated that based on big data matching analysis, there were records of seeking medical treatment or purchasing medication related to organic heart disease, epilepsy, Meniere’s disease, dizziness, hysteria, tremor paralysis, mental illness, dementia, and nervous system diseases affecting limb movement.
The text stated that according to relevant regulations, the aforementioned diseases constitute a situation that hinders safe driving; individuals with such conditions are not allowed to apply for a driver’s license. Those who already have a driver’s license are not allowed to continue driving motor vehicles, and they should apply for the cancellation of the driver’s license at the vehicle management office at the place of issuance.
The message emphasized that individuals with related illnesses should visit the Vehicle Management Office of the Traffic Police Brigade of Xiamen Public Security Bureau within 30 days of receiving the notice to handle the cancellation process. Failure to do so will lead to the announcement of the invalidity of the driver’s license. It urged recipients to take this matter seriously and cease driving.
Mr. Chen added a comment, saying, “Don’t cancel it, getting a driver’s license is not easy. I purchased quick-acting heart pills online and haven’t driven for a long time, so everyone can rest assured.”
Following the public attention this incident garnered, staff from the Huili District Traffic Police Department in Xiamen stated that the message was a reminder. After receiving the information, drivers are advised to verify further at the local traffic police department, or they may need to sign a commitment letter or provide a medical certificate.
In response to this, netizens expressed concerns such as “The era of AI surveillance has arrived,” “The key issue is the leakage of personal privacy,” and “The traffic police department is evading the real questions. What gives them the authority?” They questioned whether there are relevant laws requiring the cancellation of licenses based on suspicions.
A commentator from Jumuben News, Qu Jing, pointed out that public worries mainly focus on three aspects.
Firstly, there is a risk of being “wronged” by big data.
Having purchased quick-acting heart pills does not necessarily mean someone has heart disease; buying sleeping pills for oneself or family members certainly does not equate to having mental illnesses. The simplistic equivalence of “medication purchase records” with “possibly having illnesses that hinder safe driving” employs a blanket screening logic, drawing people into the “alert list” for reasons such as buying drugs on someone else’s behalf, short-term medication use, or stocking emergency medications.
Secondly, concerns exist regarding privacy infringement and misuse of personal information.
Medical and medication purchase records are highly sensitive and private information. Even if the traffic police department accesses such data, they should abide by the principles of “minimal necessity” and “purpose limitation,” ensuring that data is obtained based on legal responsibilities and only includes essential information. However, judging from feedback from the public, individuals have no idea when their data is accessed, how it is accessed, or for what purposes it is used, let alone providing consent. This “direct notification without consultation” approach inevitably raises fears of arbitrary investigations, disclosures, and misuse of personal information for purposes unrelated to public safety, fueling concerns about “data exposure.”
Lastly, the management model of “screen first, self-prove later” undermines the sense of data security.
Staff from the traffic police department stated that “after receiving the information, drivers are advised to verify further at the local traffic police department or may need to sign a commitment letter or provide a medical certificate.” Such widespread scrutiny, automated matches, and mass text messages sent without human review or medical judgment essentially shift the burden of proof onto ordinary individuals. Moreover, how can someone prove they are “healthy” after buying medication without experiencing further hassle? When public management becomes a one-sided “self-proving of innocence” for the public, it erodes the government’s credibility.