System Update

Canada Joins US in Banning Hikvision

If your business uses security cameras, you might be relying on tech that’s raising red flags for governments worldwide. Canada’s recent order for Chinese surveillance giant Hikvision to shut down operations echoes long-standing US bans, all driven by serious national security and human rights concerns. Let’s unpack this like a camera lens focusing on hidden risks in plain English to keep your operations secure.

Think of Hikvision cameras as watchful eyes that could be double-dipping, guarding your property while potentially reporting back to Beijing. As of June 2025, Canada decided to force Hikvision to cease all operations, citing ties to the Chinese state, exploitable vulnerabilities, and involvement in human rights abuses. But the US led the charge years ago, banning Hikvision from federal use in 2019 over fears of espionage and backdoors. This ban took effect in August 2019, prohibiting government agencies from procuring or using Hikvision equipment, which expanded to critical infrastructure.

Why the bans? Hikvision, partially owned by the Chinese government, has been linked to mass surveillance in Xinjiang, aiding the oppression of Uyghurs through facial recognition tech, as noted in a 2019 US Commerce Department entity list addition. In 2022, the FCC banned new Hikvision equipment authorizations, deeming it a national security threat due to potential data leaks to China’s military or intelligence. A 2024 incident saw hackers exploit Hikvision camera flaws to breach US networks, costing a Texas firm $50,000 in data theft, per BleepingComputer.

The risks extend beyond governments. Small businesses using Hikvision risk firmware vulnerabilities that allow remote access, as in a 2023 attack where hackers hijacked 100,000 cameras worldwide for a botnet. US bans stemmed from evidence of Hikvision’s compliance with China’s National Intelligence Law, compelling data sharing with the CCP. By 2025, over 24 US states have restricted Hikvision in public buildings, and Canada’s move, ordering a full shutdown by October 2025, mirrors this, prohibiting federal purchases and urging private sectors to follow. If your business has Hikvision camras for monitoring warehouses or offices, you could face compliance issues, data breaches, or even supply chain disruptions as bans spread.

At CyberStreams, we ensure your surveillance tech watches out for you, rather than watching you.

I’ve Put Together Three Takeaways and Next Steps:

1. Audit Your Surveillance Gear
Check if your cameras or systems use Hikvision tech (often rebranded). Replace with NDAA-compliant alternatives like Cisco or Ubiquiti to avoid risks.

2. Update Firmware Regularly
Regardless of vendor, even if stuck with Hikvision, patch frequently to close known vulnerabilities.

3. Implement Network Segmentation
Isolate cameras on a separate VLAN to limit any potential breach from spreading.

Link to original story: https://cyberstreams.com/blog/b/canad...