Canada Gives Hikvision the Boot on National Security Grounds

Canada has ordered Hikvision to cease all operations in the country and prohibited the purchase and use of Hikvision products within government entities.

The Canadian government on Friday ordered Chinese video surveillance device maker Hikvision to cease all operations in the country, on national security grounds.

Headquartered in Hangzhou, China, and partly state-owned, Hikvision Digital Technology Co., Ltd., known internationally as Hikvision, manufactures and sells CCTV systems for civilian and military purposes.

On Friday, Canada’s Minister of Industry Mélanie Joly announced that Hikvision’s Canadian branch is no longer allowed to conduct business in the country, after a national security review determined that the company’s operations would harm national security.

“This determination is the result of a multi-step review that assessed information and evidence provided by Canada’s security and intelligence community,” Joly stated.

“In addition to this action, the Government of Canada is prohibiting the purchase and ...