Ottawa (National Times): In a significant move underscoring growing global concerns over foreign influence and cybersecurity, the Canadian federal government has ordered Chinese surveillance technology giant Hikvision to shut down its operations in Canada, citing serious national security concerns.
The announcement was made by Industry Minister Mélanie Joly, who confirmed late Friday on social media that the government had directed Hikvision Canada Inc. to cease all operations and exit the country. The decision follows a national security review conducted under the Investment Canada Act.
Joly explained that the review relied heavily on intelligence and evidence provided by Canada’s national security and intelligence agencies. The government ultimately concluded that continued operations by the company within Canada posed a threat to national security.
“Canada will not compromise on national security,” said Joly. “We have a responsibility to act when foreign entities are deemed to pose a risk.”
Global Scrutiny
Hikvision, formally Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Co. Ltd., is widely recognized as the world’s largest manufacturer of surveillance equipment. The company has operated in Canada since 2014.
It has, however, faced international scrutiny and sanctions in multiple countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, over allegations that its surveillance technologies were used in human rights abuses against Uyghur Muslims in China’s Xinjiang region. Major North American retailers like Best Buy, Home Depot, and Lowe’s have since pulled Hikvision products from their shelves.
While the Canadian government did not publicly disclose specific details behind its decision, the Investment Canada Act permits such actions if a foreign investment is found to endanger national security.
Hikvision Responds with Disappointment
In an official statement, Hikvision expressed “deep concern” over the government’s decision, stating it “strongly disagrees” with the order to exit the Canadian market.
“This decision appears to be based more on geopolitical tensions and the country of origin of our parent company rather than on the actual cybersecurity performance of our technology,” the company said.
Hikvision also criticized what it described as a lack of transparency and procedural fairness in the decision-making process.
“We cooperated fully with Canadian authorities and provided extensive documentation to address their concerns. Unfortunately, no evidence or rationale was presented to justify the decision,” the company added.
Federal Ban and Broader Implications
Alongside the shutdown order, Joly announced that the federal government would prohibit all departments, agencies, and Crown corporations from using or acquiring Hikvision equipment. A review is also underway to identify and remove any existing Hikvision systems from government-owned properties.
Although the ban does not currently extend to private use, Joly issued a warning to Canadian citizens and businesses: “I strongly urge Canadians to take note of this decision and make informed choices.”
This marks a further escalation in the Canadian government’s scrutiny of foreign technology providers, especially those with direct or indirect ties to the Chinese government. The move is widely seen as part of a broader trend among Western nations to protect critical infrastructure and data sovereignty amid rising geopolitical tensions.
