I doubt there are many folks outside the industry who routinely clock the brand of security cameras they pass, but if you do in the UK you'll see one logo time and time again; that of Chinese-owned Hikvision.
"Hik" are banned in the US entirely, and at "sensitive sites" in the UK on national security grounds. In 2022 British ministers conceded that "the camera systems and their connectivity posed a threat to the UK’s security." As recently as June this year a total ban was mooted in Government circles.
Just this month, a critical security flaw has been discovered in Hikvision network cameras that could allow attackers to intercept Dynamic DNS (DDNS) credentials transmitted in cleartext, potentially exposing thousands of devices to unauthorised access and manipulation.
And if security issues aren't something that get you worked up, how about the fact that Hikvision cameras employ ethnic-based facial recognition and are used in Uyghur “re-education camps” in the autonomous territory of Xinjiang in north-west China?
So given all that, why are Hikvision so deeply embedded in the UK market? The company’s direct sales to UK and Irish customers increased to £32.6 million (roughly $41.4 million) in 2023, up from £14.8 million (around $18.8 million) the previous year.
The answer is likely more complex than any one factor, with price-point, widespread availability, and lack of awareness of the issues all contributing. For some buyers, the risks of using Hikvision products (e.g., potential cybersecurity vulnerabilities, a possible ban on the equipment, and involvement in human rights abuses) may seem abstract or unlikely compared to the immediate convenience and affordability the cameras provide.
It’s a complex issue, but one thing is clear: the true cost of Hikvision cameras goes far beyond their price tag. As security professionals, policymakers, and businesses, we must ask ourselves—are short-term savings worth the long-term risks to security, ethics, and reputation? It’s time for a broader conversation about the choices we make and the standards we hold for the technology that protects our lives and communities.
#VideoSecurity #PhysicalSecurity #EthicalBusiness #Hikvision
