UK bans security cameras linked to China from being placed near government buildings

On Thursday, the UK government told its departments to cease installing any Chinese-linked surveillance cameras at sensitive buildings, due to possible security risks.

The decision following a review of “current and future possible security risks associated with the installation of CCTV cameras on the government estate,” cabinet office minister Oliver Dowden said in a statement.

“The review has concluded that, in light of the threat to the UK and the increasing capability and connectivity of these systems, additional controls are required.”

He continued, “Departments have therefore been instructed to cease deployment of such equipment onto sensitive sites, where it is produced by companies subject to the National Intelligence Law of the People’s Republic of China.”

“Since security considerations are always paramount around these sites, we are taking action now to prevent any security risks materialising.”

The ruling applies to cameras which were manufactured by companies subject to Chinese security laws and includes guidance for departments to remove these devices from core computer networks and to consider eliminating them altogether.

The directive has come after several UK lawmakers request a ban on the sale and use of security cameras made by Hikvision and Dahua, who are two partly state-owned Chinese firms, over privacy issues and the possibility that the products are linked to breaches of human rights in China.

Hikvision has denied these claims, saying: “Hikvision cannot transmit data from end-users to third parties, we do not manage end-user databases, nor do we sell cloud storage in the UK.”

The United States has also imposed trade and usage restrictions for CCTV cameras made by Hikvision, Dahua and other Chinese companies.