The new British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his administration has decided to restrict their departments from installing Chinese-made security cameras inside sensitive buildings due to potential security risks.
The majority of CCTV cameras used by the British government are accounted for by two Chinese companies, Hikvision and Dahua. British Lawmakers have raised security concerns and linked human rights abuses.
Cabinet Office minister Oliver Dowden mentioned in a written statement, “The reviews have concluded that, in light of the threat to the UK and the increasing capability and connectivity of these systems, additional controls are required.” He added British government should replace these cameras or wait to upgrade them.
Oliver Dowden said that the concern is regarding current and future security risks associated with installing a visible surveillance device on government land.
However, the British office in Dahua did not respond to emails from Reuters seeking comment. The united state has banned trade and usage of cameras made by Hikvision, Dahua, and other Chinese firms.
Why do Hikvision and Dahua in the spotlight?
Hikvision and Dahua are the Chinese companies that account for security cameras in most British government offices; these two are on target because of the British security concern.
Moreover, 67 British lawmakers are called for a complete ban on cameras made by the two partially state-owned companies. British lawmakers cited the concern about privacy and links to human rights abuses.
And stated that companies in the name of China’s National Intelligence Law could be forced to hand over sensitive information to Beijing’s security services.
Hikvision and Dahua respond to the statement to justify their companies;
Hikvision has refused that it would violate or compromise UK data and said these allegations are false and mentioned in a statement on Thursday. He can’t transmit data from end-user to third parties, and neither can they manage the end user’s database nor sell cloud storage in the UK.
How did China respond to the allegations?
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Mao Ning told reporters that China always encouraged Chinese companies operating abroad to obey local laws.
Mao mentioned that China strictly opposes the British government's overstretching of the concept of national securities and, without reason, suppresses Chinese enterprises.
He added that The Chinese government would firmly protect the genuine and legal rights and safety of Chinese enterprises.
However, the British directive is discontinuing cameras made by companies referring to Chinese security laws. They also guided disconnecting such devices from core computer networks and thinking about removing them altogether.
Many government departments, including the interior, government buildings, and ministries, have had Chinese companies’ cameras visibly utilized on the front of their buildings.
According to Dowden, Departments have been instructed to block the placement of such equipment onto sensitive sites and the production by companies subject to the National Intelligence Law of the people’s Republic of China.
Since security concern is the supreme priority around these sites, the government is taking action to prevent any security risk from materializing.
Apart from this, the British government has also banned the sale of British chip manufacturer Newport Water Fab to a Chinese-owned company based on national security.
