UK should be more concerned about Chinese-made cameras than spy balloons, watchdog warns

Metropolitan police in UK are "heavily reliant" on Chinese-based technology, such as cameras, drones, and or surveillance equipment that is suspected of spying, a report published by UK's Commissioner for Retention and Use of Biometric Material (“Biometrics Commissioner”) and Surveillance Camera Commissioner, Fraser Sampson has alleged.   report was compiled as per  findings from Office of Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner—OBSCC. UK's OBSCC is comprised of nine (FTE) members of staff that operate under British Home Office. office is responsible for processing personal data on behalf of Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner Fraser Sampson. 

British police were “generally aware that re are security and ethical concerns about companies supplying ir kit”, Sampson noted, speaking about Chinese-built cameras. A questionnaire was sent to at least 43 police departments across England and Wales that included  British Transport Police, Civil Nuclear Constabulary, Ministry of Defence, and National Crime Agency (NCA) enquiring about use of CCTV, surveillance cameras, drones and helicopters, body-worn video and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) among or technologies being used by British police forces. 

“It is abundantly clear from this detailed analysis of survey results that police estate in UK is shot through with Chinese surveillance cameras," Sampson was quoted as saying by UK's National news.

"It is also clear that forces deploying this equipment are generally aware that re are security and ethical concerns about companies that supply ir kit," he furrmore said. 

UK reviewing its security measures as watchdog warns against Chinese me cameras

watchdog noted that several police officers across departments reported ethical and security issues with surveillance cameras manufactured by China-based firms—Dahua, Hikvision, Honeywell, Huawei, and Nuuo. National security issues in UK with Chinese technology come amid threat of Chinese spy balloons that were shot down by  US in its airspace.  UK is now reviewing its security measures after a series of unidentified objects were brought down by US military. Sampson noted that he was dubious about Chinese-based technology especially after Chinese spy balloon was seen flying 60,000 feet in sky above Montana. "I do not understand why we are not at least as concerned about Chinese cameras six feet above our he in street and elsewhere," he reportedly stated. 

“Myself and ors have been saying for some time that we should, both for security and ethical reasons, really be asking ourselves wher it is ever appropriate for public bodies to use equipment me by companies with such serious questions hanging over m," Sampson was quoted as saying. British police also sounded concerns over  ANPR systems used by officers, some even said that y were using cameras manufactured by Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Co., Ltd., or Hikvision, a Chinese state-owned manufacturer for recording body videos. 

Britain's allies such as United States h earlier blacklisted Chinese-based drone and camera companies. Recently, Australia's Ministry of Defense also announced that it is removing all Chinese-manufactured cameras that it suspected of surveillance and potential links with Chinese Communist Party.  United States blacklisted  unmanned aerial systems manufactured by China-based firm DJI over surveillance and spyware issues.  US Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) identified at least eight Chinese technology firms that were involved in  biometrics surveillance whom it suspected of collecting foreign citizens' data.