Australia follows similar moves made by the United States and Britain last year.
Australia’s Department of Defense announced on Thursday, February 9, that it will remove surveillance cameras made by companies linked to the Chinese Communist Party, according to an AP report.
The decision follows similar moves that were made by the United States and Britain.
Chinese-made surveillance technology
The Defense Department, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and other agency offices will recall about 913 cameras, electronic entry systems, video recorders and intercoms that were produced by Chinese companies Dahua and Hikvision, the newspaper first reported. The Australian.
These two companies are partly owned by the Chinese government.
Richard Marles, Australia’s defense minister, stated that his agency is currently reviewing all of its surveillance equipment.
Mao Ning, spokesman for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, denounced “improper practices” that abuse national security and use state authority to “repress and discriminate” against Chinese companies when asked about Australia’s recent move.
“We hope Australia will provide a fair and non-discriminatory environment for the normal operation of Chinese businesses and do more things that are conducive to mutual trust and cooperation between the two parties,” Ning said in a statement cited by AP.
The United States made a similar move in November 2022 when it announced it would ban video surveillance and telecommunications technology from Chinese companies such as Hikvision and Dahua to safeguard the country’s communications network.
British government buildings also banned security cameras produced by Hikvision in November last year.
Hikvision and Dahua security cameras and gadgets were discovered in almost every department in Australia with the exception of the agriculture, prime minister and cabinet departments.
The National Disability Insurance Agency and the Australian War Memorial have also stated that they will remove Chinese cameras discovered at their locations.
China’s National Intelligence Law
James Paterson, a spokesman for the opposition cybersecurity team, said his consultations with each federal agency over a six-month period prompted the audit after the Home Department failed to specify the number of cameras and other surveillance technology. present in government facilities.
Paterson called for an immediate government plan to remove these devices from all departments and agencies in Australia.
He also noted that Hikvision and Dahua are subject to China’s National Intelligence Law, which means they must work with Chinese intelligence agencies when called upon.
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