Chinese CCTV cameras will be barred from Australia amid security fears

Key takeaways:

• Australia is concerned that the Chineses CCTV cameras are a national security hazard.

Australia will bar Chinese CCTV cameras from defence zones over national security worries.

Australia fears their national security is in danger and removes Chinese CCTV cameras: 

It arrives after an audit saw 900 pieces of CCTV equipment built by firms Hikvision and Dahua on government properties.

The UK and the US took similar actions last year, noting fears that the Chinese government may access the device data. Hikvision says those worries are groundless. Dahua has yet to reply to a request for comment.

The audit of Australian government areas found the cameras and security equipment was located in more than 200 facilities in nearly every department – including the foreign affairs and attorney general’s units.

Also read: Pakistan deals with a financial crisis; seeks help from IMF

At least one unit was also found in the defence department, but the total number at defence sites has yet to be discovered.

On Thursday, Defence Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles told the government would see and bar the cameras from any defence areas to make them “completely safe”.

“I don’t think we should stretch [the seriousness]… but it’s an important thing that’s been brought to our awareness, and we’re going to correct it,” he said, adding the equipment pre-dated his time in office.

Attorney General Mark Dreyfus told the government would also check whether the cameras on other government structures need to be removed.

Source – BBC