Canada Orders Chinese Surveillance Firm Hikvision to Cease Operations

Canada has ordered Hikvision Canada Inc. to cease all operations and exit the country, citing “injurious” risks to national security.

Industry Minister Mélanie Joly announced the decision on June 28, 2025, following a formal National Security Review under the Investment Canada Act (ICA).

The government will also prohibit federal departments, agencies, and crown corporations from purchasing or using Hikvision products, while initiating audits to remove existing equipment.

Review Process and Technical Basis

The decision stemmed from a multi-step ICA review assessing evidence from Canada’s security and intelligence agencies.

While specifics remain classified, the updated 2025 ICA guidelines emphasize economic security and supply-chain vulnerabilities.

The review incorporated Canada’s Sensitive Technology List (STL), which flags sectors like surveillance technology for heightened scrutiny.

Hikvision’s ties to China’s state apparatus and its dual-use capabilities (e.g., 3D DNR imaging and backlight compensation) were likely factors, given global concerns about data sovereignty.

Hikvision’s Response and Global Context

Hikvision denounced the decision as “lacking factual basis and transparency,” asserting it reflects “geopolitical bias” against Chinese firms.

The company highlighted its compliance with Canadian requests, including documentation on encryption protocols and network redundancy features like ANR (Automatic Network Replenishment).

Internationally, Hikvision faces sanctions from the U.S., UK, and Australia for alleged complicity in human rights abuses in Xinjiang, where its thermal imaging and facial recognition systems reportedly enabled mass surveillance.

Implementation and Public Advisory

Canada’s directive mandates:

• Immediate shutdown of Hikvision’s Canadian subsidiary.
• Asset audits across government properties to identify and remove legacy devices.
• A ban on federal procurement of Hikvision’s IP cameras and NVRs (Network Video Recorders).
  Minister Joly urged private entities and citizens to “make their own decisions accordingly,” signaling broader de-risking from Chinese surveillance tech.

The move aligns with tightened ICA enforcement prioritizing supply-chain resilience and data sovereignty, reflecting global trends in screening foreign tech investments.

Hikvision’s exit marks Canada’s most significant action against Chinese surveillance firms to date.

Find this Story Interesting! Follow us on LinkedIn and X to Get More Instant updates