The Importance of Removing Chinese Surveillance Equipment from Sensitive Sites in the UK
The UK Cabinet Office has mandated central government departments to remove all surveillance equipment made by Chinese companies, such as Hikvision and Dahua, from sensitive sites to mitigate the risk of Beijing’s intelligence gathering efforts. The order is part of the government’s plan to limit the potential harm that could result from the implementation of surveillance equipment manufactured by Chinese companies that are subject to China’s intelligence law, which requires organizations to “support, assist, and cooperate” with state intelligence work.
The measures announced by the Cabinet Office comprise a timeline for the removal of surveillance equipment produced by Chinese companies from sensitive central government sites and the creation of a new unit to investigate “suppliers that may pose a risk to national security.” The directive is expected to result in the removal of significant volumes of existing equipment from government properties in a shorter period than the average service life of surveillance cameras, which is seven years.
The ban is aimed primarily at Hikvision and Dahua, the leading makers of video surveillance equipment in the world, and will impact at least a third of police forces in England and Wales, according to the independent commissioner for surveillance cameras. While Hikvision and Dahua have denied any threat to national security and have frequently highlighted their compliance with all laws and regulations, this decision is viewed as a powerful deterrent against further attacks in the United Kingdom.
Emily Taylor, CEO of Oxford Information Labs, notes that this ban represents a step too far in the growing geopolitical tensions that are being expressed through national bans on technology from specific countries. She believes that this move appears ridiculous since it is impossible to avoid China’s supply chains when dealing with technology.
Emerging from the announcement, Cabinet Secretary Jeremy Quin has stated that “these new measures will protect our sensitive sectors from companies that could threaten national security and are firm deterrents to hostile actors who wish to harm Britain.”. The implications of this decision will be felt across the national security landscape in the UK, particularly in areas such as police forces, airports, and government buildings.
Additional Piece:
The Security Risks Associated with Chinese Surveillance Equipment
Despite rapid technological advancements in the field of video surveillance, the security risks posed by certain Chinese equipment have long concerned experts in the field. The rise of multinational conglomerates like Hikvision and Dahua Technology has placed them at the forefront of global conversations around national security and privacy.
The security of video surveillance equipment has been a security concern for years in particular after investigations in 2017 uncovered significant vulnerabilities in Hikvision’s platform, which officials in the US branded a “backdoor” allowing hackers unrestricted access to sensitive information. While the companies have claimed compliance with relevant laws and regulations, the issue seems to be far from resolved and has only gained greater attention in recent years.
Despite assurances from Chinese companies about their independence from political structures and security agencies, cybersecurity analysts have warned against potentially significant risks. Some of the reasons why Chinese video surveillance is viewed as a threat to national security include the fact that the supply chain in China is opaque and that companies there work closely with the state on their surveillance systems.
Moreover, cyber-criminals’ ability to launch attacks from botnet armies illustrating the need for secure-by-design systems has resulted in calls for the need for governments around the world to ensure that only credible and secure companies receive public contracts. This is especially important when it comes to sensitive installations such as key public infrastructure sectors.
Surveillance equipment is critical for maintaining public safety and securing key government infrastructure. It is necessary to maintain its security by establishing proper procurement guidelines and standards that limit the amount of equipment available to select companies. However, the decision to remove Chinese made cameras from sensitive government locations is viewed as misguided and inadequate.
It is essential for the government to invest time in developing sound policies and frameworks for procurement and purchasing, focusing on the overall safety and security requirements. It needs to work closely with a wide group of stakeholders to ensure the procurement process is transparent and accountable. Any policies or strategies implemented must focus on enhancing the critical infrastructure of the UK and reducing vulnerabilities to cyber-attack, data breaches, and espionage from adversaries.
Summary:
The directive from the UK Cabinet Office mandates central government departments to remove all surveillance equipment made by Chinese companies, including Dahua and Hikvision, from sensitive sites. The government is committed to publishing a timeline for the removal of surveillance equipment manufactured by companies subject to China’s intelligence law from sensitive central government sites. At least one-third of police forces in England and Wales use surveillance cameras made by Hikvision. The new directive will result in the removal of significant amounts of existing equipment from government properties. While Hikvision and Dahua have denied any threat to national security and have frequently highlighted their compliance with all laws and regulations, the decision is viewed as a powerful deterrent against further attacks in the United Kingdom. The implications of this decision will be felt across the national security landscape in the UK, particularly in areas such as police forces, airports, and government buildings.
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The UK Cabinet Office is to tell central government departments to remove all surveillance equipment manufactured by Chinese companies, including Dahua and Hikvision, from sensitive sites in a bid to limit Beijing’s potential intelligence gathering.
Announcing the decision on Tuesday, the Cabinet Office said the government “is committing to publish a timeline for the removal of surveillance equipment manufactured by companies subject to China’s intelligence law from sensitive central government sites.”
Two people familiar with the government’s plan said the order was aimed at Hikvision and Dahua, the world’s largest producers of video surveillance equipment.
Ministers are expected to reassure aggressive Tory MPs that within six months of the bill taking effect they will publish the promised timeline.
“These new measures will protect our sensitive sectors from companies that could threaten national security and are a firm deterrent to hostile actors who wish to harm Britain,” said Cabinet Secretary Jeremy Quin, who announced the measures. along with a number of new amendments to that of the government Procurement account.
Last November the Cabinet Office told government departments to do so stop the installation visual surveillance equipment manufactured by companies subject to China’s National Intelligence Law, which requires organizations to “support, assist and cooperate” with the work of state intelligence.
The new directive will result in the removal of significant amounts of existing equipment from government properties. At least a third of police forces in England and Wales use surveillance cameras made by Hikvision, according to research by Fraser Sampsonthe government’s independent surveillance cameras commissioner.
While the average life span of a surveillance camera is seven years, the government’s timeline for removing the equipment is likely to be much quicker, the two people said.
“There is a plausible but unproven security case for the ban,” said Emily Taylor, CEO of Oxford Information Labs, a cyber intelligence firm. “Instead I see it as a step further than the growing geopolitical tensions that are being expressed through the technology bans.”
Taylor added: “Now we’re saying, look at the manufacturer flag and that will tell you if the device is secure. It’s a ridiculous move, because if you look into any tech supply chain, you’re going to find China somewhere, so where are you going to stop?
The Cabinet also announced it would create a new unit to investigate “suppliers that may pose a risk to national security and assess whether firms should be excluded from public procurement”.
Hikvision and Dahua did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Hikvision has previously said it was “categorically untrue” to present the company as a threat to national security and that it lacks the ability to transmit data from its customers to third parties.
Dahua has previously said it has served UK customers for six years “in full compliance with all applicable laws and regulations” and “maintains extremely high cyber security standards”.
The British Security Industry Association estimates that around 21 million professional video surveillance cameras are in use in the UK, of which around 1%, or 210,000, are used in the public sector.
In 2019 the United States prohibited Hikvision and Dahuaalong with other Chinese AI surveillance companies, from purchasing American products, claiming the groups were aiding the surveillance and repression of Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in China’s northwestern Xinjiang region.
https://www.ft.com/content/740516c0-96f3-4a5e-aae8-25a63b914428
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