Canada suspends Hikvision operations over national security concerns

Canada on Friday ordered Chinese video surveillance company Hikvision to end its operations in the country after a government review found that it posed a national security risk.

Canadian Minister of Industry Mélanie Joly said in a statement that the determination was made with “information and evidence provided by Canada's security and intelligence community” and that she strongly encourages Canadians to “take note of this decision and make their own decisions accordingly.” In addition to ending the company’s operations in Canada, agencies and government-owned corporations will be banned from purchasing or using Hikvision products.

“The Government of Canada is further conducting a review of existing properties to ensure that legacy Hikvision products are not used going forward. The Government of Canada welcomes foreign investment – but will never compromise on Canada's national security,” Joly explained. 

Canadian officials did not respond to requests for comment about what the national security review found or whether the ban was related to cybersecurity. 

Hikvision is a Chinese state-owned manufacturer of video surveillance tools that has faced backlash from the U.S. and Europe over its role in China’s alleged mass detention of the Uyghur minority group in the Xinjiang region. Hikvision claimed last year that it ended its subsidiaries’ contracts in Xinjiang. 

U.S. courts are still haggling over a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) order banning the companies’ equipment from being used for the “purpose of public safety, security of government facilities, physical security surveillance of critical infrastructure, and other national security purposes.”

The company’s cameras are also heavily targeted by cybercriminals and nation states through several longstanding vulnerabilities. 

Hikvision published its own statement slamming Canada’s decision, arguing that it was based on “unfounded allegations of national security concerns.”

The decision “lacks a factual basis, procedural fairness, and transparency,” according to Hikvision.

“Instead of evaluating our technology on its cybersecurity merits, the decision appears to be driven by the parent company’s country of origin, reflecting broader geopolitical tensions and an unjustified bias against Chinese companies,” Hikvision said. 

Hikvision noted that it cooperated with Canada’s government throughout the review process and provided responses, detailed documentation and more to every official involved. 

“Despite these efforts, the government imposed its decision without presenting evidence or addressing the facts we provided,” the statement explained. 

Hikvision has operated in Canada since 2014 and the company said it has “created thousands of jobs” throughout the country. 

Canada and China have had frosty relations since Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou was detained by police in Vancouver and held in the country for about three years based on a U.S. extradition request that was eventually resolved with a plea bargain.