Canada Orders Chinese Hikvision to Cease Operations Over Security

The Canadian government has ordered Chinese surveillance technology manufacturer Hikvision to cease all operations within Canada due to national security concerns, following a multi-step review under the Investment Canada Act. Industry Minister Mélanie Joly stated that Hikvision Canada's continued presence would be injurious to the country's national security and announced a ban on government procurement and use of Hikvision products. This action aligns with broader Western efforts, including U.S. sanctions, to limit reliance on Chinese technology companies linked to the Chinese Communist Party and implicated in surveillance practices, notably in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region. The government is also conducting a review to remove existing Hikvision equipment from federal properties. Hikvision has strongly disagreed with the decision, criticizing it for lacking procedural fairness and transparency. While the ban affects Hikvision's Canadian business, it does not extend to the company's operations outside Canada.