UK bans Chinese-made surveillance cameras at 'sensitive' sites

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UK Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Oliver Dowden told members of parliament on Thursday that the UK government departments had been instructed not to install Chinese-manufactured surveillance cameras in "sensitive" government locations, British newspaper The Independent reported on Thursday. 

"Departments have therefore been instructed to cease deployment of such equipment on to sensitive sites, where it is produced by companies subject to the national intelligence law of the People’s Republic of China," Dowden said.

China's intelligence law stipulates that all Chinese companies must grant full access to information upon the government's request.  

Following a thorough review of present and future threats conducted by the UK Government Security Group regarding the use of Chinese surveillance cameras in government buildings, the agency concluded that "additional controls are required."  

Dowden added that governmental institutions must not only cease to install further Chinese-made devices but also fully disconnect the cameras that are already set in place. 

The Chancellor further requested government staff to exercise the ban at locations that are not deemed "sensitive."

In August this year, the UK Parliament shut down its TikTok account due to concerns over possible information leakage to China.

Last month, former Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered Huawei equipment to be purged completely from Britain’s 5G network by the end of 2027.

On November 15, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak claimed that  China is a systemic threat to UK values and the "most state-based threat to our economic security," adding that Britain will consider supplying weaponry to Taiwan.

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