Haiyun （Helena ）Zhao

Helena’s research focuses on a longitudinal ethnographic investigation into the experiences of parents with missing children (abducted or kidnapped) in Mainland China. Her DPhil explores the evolution of the victim's movement among these parents over the past two decades, highlighting the changing tactics they employ to locate their missing children. Her work examines the impact of social media and technological advances, including the rise of Douyin (Chinese TikTok), the spread of live streaming to rural areas, and the state’s use of tools like facial recognition, ancestral analysis, and DNA banking. The research also delves into how these technological shifts intersect with evolving government policies and state responses.