Across China tens of millions of men and boys are being compelled to give blood samples for the government’s DNA mapping project. The Chinese government have been collecting samples since 2017, and the data will be paired with the country’s wider surveillance program.

The aim is to genetically map the countries 700 million males. With the database the authorities will be able to track down the male relatives of any citizen in the country.

A U.S. company, Thermo Fisher, has come under fire for selling the Chinese government the testing kits used in the program.

The genetic testing along with the extensive surveillance databases Beijing have created is an increasing worry to minority groups in the country. Christian and Muslim minorities have already been targeted by the government. As well as those who have criticised Beijing or who seek greater freedom in the country.

Read More: New York Times