China's rapid reversal of strict "zero covid" policies following unprecedented protests in November appeared, from afar, to be a rare instance of authorities acknowledging - perhaps even tacitly condoning - popular public dissent.
But as Beijing loosened its iron grip on the coronavirus, a different story was unfolding inside homes and police stations across the country as authorities fanned out to crack down on those behind the protests - utilizing the powerful surveillance state built over the past decade and fine-tuned during the pandemic.
