Total Trust

Society, Netherlands/Germany 2023

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China’s surveillance state uses AI to assess its citizens and seeks to create a society of total control

Since the 2000s, the Chinese government has been using "smart technology" to create an increasingly monitored and closely controlled society. A grid-based system has been rolled out nationwide to collect data for the "management" of social disruptions at the grassroots level. Various programs are being tested to determine the trustworthiness of each citizen. “Total Trust” is a deeply unsettling and moving film about the eerie power of big data and AI, their use and abuse in private life, and censorship and self-censorship. Through the harrowing stories of people in China who have been monitored, intimidated, and even tortured, “Total Trust” explores the dangers of today’s technologies when their power goes unchecked.
98 min
HD
5.1
FSK 6
Audio language:
Chinese
Subtitles:
German

Awards

DOC NYC 2023 Grand Jury Prize
Grimme Award 2025 For Information & Culture
It's All True 2023 Best Feature or Medium-Length Documentary

More information

Director:

Zhang Jialing

Composer:

Jörg Gollasch

Sound Design:

Nardi van Dijk

Original title:

完全信任

Original language:

Chinese

Further titles:

Total Trust: Surveillance State

Was China der Welt nicht zeigt – Total Trust

토탈 트러스트

Format:

1.85:1 HD, Color, 5.1

Age rating:

FSK 6 (Threat, emotional stress)

Audio language:

Chinese

Subtitles:

German