Facial recognition technology set up at a Jacky Cheung concert in Nanchang scanned tens of thousands of concert-goers and flagged at least one up as a suspect in an “economic crime” recorded nearby.

Local police officer Li Jin told the China Daily: “The suspect was shocked that he was found among tens of thousands of people.”

According to police, the man in question was keeping a low profile and had only agreed to go to the concert - at the behest of his wife and friends - because he thought he would be safe in a large crowd.

Mr Li said: “The concert attracted more than 60,000 visitors, so we paid a lot of attention to its security.”

China has controversially pioneered the use of facial recognition technology by state agencies.

As well as catching criminals, authorities recently used the technology to reunite a mentally unwell and confused man with his family.

But critics warn that it could also be used to target and track dissidents.