Canada has ordered China’s Hikvision to cease operations in the country, citing national security risks. Industry Minister Mélanie Joly announced today that after a security review under the Investment Canada Act, the government had concluded that Hikvision’s continued presence could threaten Canada’s national security. Ottawa has already barred government agencies and state firms from using Hikvision products and will audit existing systems. Hikvision, a surveillance tech firm based in Hangzhou, China, called the move discriminatory and said it had always complied with local laws. The order follows similar actions by the Canadian government against Chinese firms: in November, Canada ordered TikTok’s Canadian entity to halt operations due to security concerns. Hikvision, which serves mainly corporate clients in Canada, must shut down within 120 days. The nearly 40-year-old Investment Canada Act allows the authorities to review foreign investments of any size for security risks, including data leaks or state influence. Canada said it welcomes foreign investment but not at the expense of national security. [Caixin, in Chinese]
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