Concerns over CCTV Cameras in Govt Departments
There are concerns over CCTV cameras made by Chinese Communist Party-linked companies being installed in government departments. New Zealand’s allies have removed the CCTV tech from their sensitive buildings.
Questions about the security of CCTV cameras in Govt buildings first appeared in the media back in 2017. Check out earlier blog about US removing security cameras amidst fears that Network Security could be compromised by using IP services.
A Newstalk ZB investigation has found at least 120 Hikvision or Dahua cameras are installed across the New Zealand Police, Department of Conservation, Ministry of Social Development and Oranga Tamariki. The Associated Press has reported that manufacturers Dahua and Hikvision are both partly state-owned by the Chinese Communist Party. Hikvision has also faced allegations of aiding Beijing in oppressing minorities and monitoring protesters, which it has denied.
In November 2022 US Government said they were banning telecommunications and video surveillance equipment from several prominent Chinese brands. These included Hikvision and Dahua. They stated this was done to protect the nation’s communications network.
Security cameras made by Hikvision were also banned from British government buildings in November 2022.
National Party MP Simon O’Connor, who is also the New Zealand co-chair of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (Ipac), said it would be “relatively simple” to order an audit of Dahua and Hikvision cameras across New Zealand’s government departments.
“There are questions about these cameras . . . both issues of security, and some moral elements too”, he said.
“I just don’t see why New Zealand needs to expose itself . . . we have other options, it’s a no-brainer to me that we should go and use them.”
Electronic Security news here at Insight EDS
