A new report has raised concerns that Venezuela may continue to integrate advanced Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) systems into its national surveillance network, despite a recent change in leadership. This development comes after the United States reportedly ousted former President Nicolás Maduro in a covert operation in 2024. The report, published by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), highlights that the plans for incorporating Chinese AI technology were already in motion before Maduro's removal and warns that no significant policy shift has occurred since then. Maduro, who ruled Venezuela from 2013 until his ousting, had been constructing an extensive surveillance system to monitor public behavior and suppress dissent. Much of this technology was sourced from China, with future plans to integrate advanced AI systems designed for surveillance and control. The ASPI report, titled "Warning signals: Venezuela and the risk of Chinese AI-enabled digital authoritarianism," notes that prior to Maduro's removal, Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez had sought to sign an agreement to adopt Chinese-built AI systems to enhance the country’s state surveillance capabilities. Following the operation that removed Maduro from power, Rodríguez became the new president. However, the report suggests that her administration has not changed course, and the implementation of Chinese AI systems may still proceed. The report warns that Venezuela could become one of the first countries outside of China to adopt advanced AI systems for surveillance, making it a leading example in the Western Hemisphere of such technology being used for control and repression. One of the companies involved in this potential integration is iFlytek, a Chinese firm previously linked to surveillance activities in the Xinjiang region, where Uyghur Muslims were detained. The U.S. banned iFlytek’s products in 2019 due to these concerns. The ASPI report urges U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, to take action to dismantle Venezuela’s surveillance infrastructure and prevent the import of Chinese AI systems. The report argues that such efforts would not only counter Chinese influence but also enhance the U.S.'s image as a liberating force, even as the U.S. itself faces criticism over its own surveillance practices.