Large countries in Europe have a “headache” because Chinese surveillance cameras are installed all over the country
Chinese cameras are rampant
Like China, surveillance cameras are quite common in public spaces in the UK.
Cameras are widely installed in schools, community centers and prisons, as well as on public transport, serving as a deterrent to criminal activity and as a tool for law enforcement agencies. functions that seek to preempt or investigate illegal activities, from petty theft to acts of terrorism.
London has a reputation as one of the cities with the highest percentage of surveillance cameras in the world, with 73 surveillance cameras (CCTVs) for every 1,000 people living in the British capital. According to analysis by security researcher Comparitech, only the Taiyuan region, Shanxi province in northern China, and Wuxi in Jiangsu province, eastern China have more cameras per capita than London.
Tensions are growing due to the growing dominance of two of the world’s largest internet protocol camera manufacturers – including Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology and Zhejiang Dahua Technology. Both manufacturers are from China.
Alicia Kearns, co-chair of the China Research Group and a Conservative member of the UK Parliament, said: “We are allowing China to collect data from people in the UK and other countries. Essentially, we’re sending people’s facial and gait data across the UK to China.”
Tensions over Chinese camera manufacturers come almost three years after the US blacklisted both Hikvision and Dahua.
The US has added both companies to the blacklist along with a group of companies and public security agencies in China, on the grounds that these agencies were involved in what the West calls ” violations and abuses of human rights” in Xinjiang.
The US, which previously banned federal agencies from buying Hikvision and Dahua equipment due to national security concerns, is now said to be considering additional harsh sanctions against Hikvision. The British government was hesitant to issue a complete ban on equipment from Chinese camera manufacturers.
David Alton, a member of the British Parliament, said last week: “The government should establish a timetable to remove these cameras and technology from the supply chain of the public sector, and lobby to encourage and support businesses in the private sector to do the same. We simply cannot allow such tools to continue to be used in our daily lives.”
Changing attitudes
The British government, which has for years encouraged investment from Chinese companies, is taking a tougher stance towards China and its growing influence globally.
Britain has banned equipment made by Huawei Technologies from its 5G telecommunications network, and has published a review of a number of British acquisitions by Chinese companies in recent weeks – both on security grounds and on security grounds. national security.
At the same time, British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss warned in a speech in April that China must “play by the rules” on human rights and other international standards, or face consequences such as: punishment.
“China needs to trade with the G7”, she said in her speech. “We represent half of the global economy. And we have options. We have shown Russia the kind of choices we are prepared to make when international rules are violated. And We have demonstrated that we are prepared to prioritize security and respect for sovereignty over short-term economic interests.”
Ending the UK’s relationship with Chinese-made surveillance cameras may be more difficult to accomplish than expected, given that Hikvision and Dahua cameras are very prevalent in the UK public and private sectors, particularly in the UK. at the local level.
An estimated 1.3 million Hikvision cameras are in operation in the UK, or the equivalent of 1 camera/50 people nationwide.
Around two-thirds of areas in London and the UK’s 20 largest cities have used technology made by Hikvision or Dahua to monitor their public areas by 2020, Reuters reports.
Similar research by Top10VPN.com shows that the Hammersmith and Fulham neighborhoods in London have more than 1,700 Hikvision cameras by the end of 2020. The area is home to three English football clubs – Chelsea, Fulham and Queens Park Rangers – and has some of the most expensive residential properties in the country.
It is known that the police force protecting British nuclear power plants also uses Hikvision cameras in the administrative buildings of this country.
The Hikvision devices also serve as surveillance for the UK’s Health Security Agency, which researches vaccines and deadly diseases, Bloomberg reported last month.
The UK Department of Health has announced that it has banned the purchase of new Hikvision equipment, but has not forced the removal of existing cameras.
British officials declined to discuss what equipment was used in government buildings, citing national security reasons.
Reaction of the Chinese company
A UK government spokesman said: “We take the security of our citizens, systems and facilities very seriously, and take multiple measures to review the integrity of our arrangements.”
Hikvision says it has cooperated with previous government requests in the UK and that its business model in the UK is suitable for the security industry, in which it sells through distribution partners, rather than directly. to end users such as local assemblies.
A Hikvision spokesperson said: “Hikvision takes all reports regarding ethical and security concerns very seriously and recognizes our responsibility to protect people and property. The company has engaged. with governments around the globe to clear up misunderstandings about the company [và] our business, while also addressing their concerns.”
Dahua says it strongly supports the reform and has always fully complied with applicable laws and regulations where it operates.
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