Australia to remove made-in-China cameras from Defense Dept buildings, after similar step by USA, UK

After a controversy over an alleged Chinese spy balloon flying over the United States of America, countries appear to be worrying about Beijing using cameras made in China to snoop.

Australia's Defense Department has decided to remove from its buildings surveillance cameras made by companies linked to China's ruling Communist Party.

At least 913 cameras, intercom systems, electronic entry systems and video recorders developed and manufactured by Chinese companies Hikvision and Dahua have been installed in Australian government and agency offices, according to The Australian newspaper.

Earlier, USA and the United Kingdom had announced similar decisions. The US government said in November 2022 it was banning telecommunications and video surveillance equipment from several prominent Chinese brands including Hikvision and Dahua to protect the nation's communications network. Security cameras made by Hikvision were also banned from British government buildings in November 2022.

Hikvision and Dahua are partly owned by China's Communist Party-ruled government.

(With agency inputs)

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