Shanghai QR Code

In May 2022, a massive data leak compromised the personal information of nearly 5 million residents of Shanghai, China. The leak originated from the citys COVID-19 tracking system, the Sui Shen Ma (随申码) QR code, which stored sensitive data including names, ID numbers, phone numbers, travel histories, and vaccination statuses.

The leaked data, containing 4,999,979 records, was published on an online forum, exposing countless individuals to the risk of identity theft, fraud, and other malicious activities. The breach raised significant concerns about the security of personal data within Chinas vast digital surveillance network.