The products of the Chinese state-owned security equipment manufacturer Hikvision are banned in government buildings in several countries. The cameras collect data from their users, and no one can say for sure what this will be used for in the end.
Cameras from the Chinese security equipment manufacturer Hikvision are available from several different technology and security stores in Finland. Hikvision is owned by the Chinese state.
The security police have warned of an increase in Chinese intelligence activities in Finland. Chinese equipment manufacturers are obliged to assist the country’s intelligence services when requested. Chinese intelligence focuses especially on technology, science and personal intelligence.
– Chinese equipment manufacturers have an obligation to assist, if necessary, the country’s intelligence services, whose tasks include cyber espionage against Western countries, the Security Police the announcement states.
The protection police refused to comment on individual device manufacturers. However, Supo points out that in situations concerning national security, it is good to remember that large Chinese companies usually have strong ties to the Chinese government and the official apparatus.
When walking on the streets of Finland, you can notice the Hikvision logo on several street-monitoring cameras, Iltalehti verified the company’s cameras at least from Tampere and Helsinki. Also Yle told in February that Hikvision cameras can be found on public transport in Tampere.
Hikvision’s technology also secures Sanomatalo. Jani Ahosola
Hikvision’s cameras are used for mass surveillance of citizens in China. The cameras enable the social evaluation system of people in China using machine learning. That’s about it reported by, among others, the BBC.
The same cameras also monitor the “re-education centers” in Xiangyang – or so they say in China. In Western countries, these are referred to as concentration camps.
“China’s internal matter”
BBC has said that human rights organizations have confirmed that China is committing genocide against the Uyghur minorities. China is accused of numerous human rights violations.
– According to my understanding, this originates from the United States. According to their report, the company’s cameras are used, for example, in Xinjiang for mass surveillance of the Uyghur minority, a researcher at the Foreign Policy Institute Markus Holmgren tells Iltalehte.
Hikvision’s cameras have been removed, for example, from the administrative premises of the United States, Great Britain, and the European Parliament, where Hikvision’s subcontractors are also prohibited. The defense forces of several countries have also removed the cameras from their facilities.
Holmgren states that the biggest threat to the use of Chinese surveillance technology is related to China’s technological development and economy. Personal intelligence and surveillance of foreign citizens are secondary to China’s interests.
China is the leading technology leader in identifying people using camera technology. This is related to the country’s citizen evaluation system, where the Chinese administration monitors the movements of its citizens.
By identifying people’s behavior patterns, they also try to guide people’s behavior. Hikvision’s camera technology seems to be in a special position.
– However, this is an internal matter for China, and does not pose a threat to foreign countries. In any case, cameras collect a massive amount of data that can be used for both good and bad.
Markus Holmgren, a researcher at the Institute for Foreign Policy. Henri Kärkkäinen
As an example, Holmgren tells how technology could be used, for example, to monitor the spread of epidemics. According to him, a very strong regulatory framework is needed to monitor the correct use of technology.
– This is the main theme behind the European Union’s artificial intelligence regulation.
Holmgren thinks that there are hardly any Hikvision cameras installed in Finland in places where personal identification data could be leaked. The threat, however, is that the cameras could collect face, step and heat trace identifiers from citizens.
– The concern is that with the help of its camera network, China has a good understanding of people’s movements and activities outside the country as well. At the same time, a huge amount of training data is produced for Hikvision’s machine learning models to analyze different appearance and cultural traits.
According to Holmgren, concern about data collection is also caused by Hikvision’s subcontractors, who use the same technology with their own layouts.
A surprise for the importer
Hikvision’s brochure states the following: “In addition to the security industry, Hikvision extends to home smart technology, industrial automation, and automotive electronics to achieve its long-term vision.”
Suomilammi Oy is the importer of Hikvision equipment. Iltalehti contacted the importer.
Are you aware that the cameras you bring into the country are used for mass surveillance of citizens in China and to monitor their concentration camps?
– This came as a surprise. I can’t answer such political questions. I recommend that you contact the Finnish representative of the company.
According to Suomilammi, the representative of the company in Finland is Danskalainen Fie Andresen. However, Iltalehti found a training center registered for the company in Espoo’s Karamalmi industrial area. There is no contact number here, so the delivery went to get to know the training center in question for a surprise visit.
Training center
A lot of Nokia staff move around Karamalmi. Their office is next door. The building registered to Hikvision, on the other hand, is quiet. Boxes with Hikvision tapes are stacked next to the lobby counter.
The lobby person says that the company’s personnel are not there. He contacts Hikvision’s key account manager by phone Timo Miettinen.
A lot of boxes with Hikvision tapes were stacked next to the lobby counter. Henri Kärkkäinen
Miettinen says that the training center is Hikvision’s showroom, where products are presented to customers. He recommends contacting Andresen with questions.
After a short conversation, Miettinen agrees to an interview.
According to Miettinen, the company has no operations in Finland other than sales. Finnish personnel work as resellers on Hikvision Europe’s payroll and the operation is registered in the Netherlands.
There was not much traffic in Espoo. Henri Kärkkäinen
Finnish products come from the Netherlands or directly from the factory in China. Their customers are mainly entrepreneurs in the security industry, who also install the products.
Do you have subcontractors who would use your cameras with their own logo?
– Well, yes, there are certainly some and they can probably be found all over the world. The contracts are made directly at the head office, so I don’t have more detailed information about it. These are products specially tailored for customers.
Could you tell us a bit about the artificial intelligence used in your cameras?
– There is a lot of artificial intelligence in our cameras. Our cameras distinguish people and vehicles, among other things.
Miettinen says that a so-called virtual threshold has been set for the cameras, crossing which can trigger an alarm. The cameras can also detect fires.
Numerous countries have banned the use of cameras in their government buildings, and the United States, Great Britain and the EU, among others, have banned the use of your camera. Could you comment on that?
– I would assume that this is partly related to the trade war between the USA and China. I can’t say or comment more precisely what the bans are based on.
Regarding the security of the cameras, Miettinen says that the cameras are password protected and require a strong password.
– If it is done correctly, then the devices are secure. Generally, our cameras are used in closed networks, and not in public networks, where devices are most vulnerable.
Among other things, the National Security Police has pointed out that Chinese equipment manufacturers are obliged to assist the country’s intelligence service if necessary. How would you comment on this?
– I cannot comment on such matters at all. These go to Fie Andressen’s area of expertise. Ask about it there, so that you get the right answers and in the right format.
Correct answers, in correct format
Hikvision sent to Iltalehte brochures regarding the cyber security of their devices. About information network security the document on the other page, it is stated that the company does not take responsibility for the operation of the company’s cameras, which may adversely affect the business, cause cyber security problems or leak privacy protection. The company also does not grant guarantees for its devices and the devices are sold as is.
A Hikvision camera photographed outside Helsinki’s central library Oodi. Jani Ahosola
After several contact attempts, Iltalehti reached the vacationing Fie Andresen by e-mail. Andresen is the head of international relations at Hikvision Europe.
Andresen did not answer the questions himself, but relayed the company’s official answers from their anonymous representative.
How will the EU’s future artificial intelligence regulation affect your operations?
– According to Hikvision’s technical analysis, our products do not pose a threat to the security of any state. It is unfortunate that our operations are being politicized, which affects the reliability of our products, the answer says.
Several security experts and intelligence agencies have stated that Chinese technology manufacturers are obligated to assist the country’s intelligence service. How do you operate in Europe?
– As a camera manufacturer, we do not have access to users’ video files. We do not store data in Finland, and we do not offer cloud storage services. Therefore, we cannot share the information with third parties. Strict safety requirements have been set for us.
Hikvision cameras photographed in China’s Zhejiang province. Illustration picture. Lou-Foto / Alamy Stock Photo
Hikvision’s response points out that the Irish authorities have found the cameras to be safe. It was argued about in the country in early 2023. However, Ireland is more the exception than the rule.
US experts have stated that Hikvision’s cameras would be used in China’s “re-education centers” and enable an evaluation system for Chinese citizens. How would you comment on this?
– According to independent sources, we have never “knowingly participated in human rights violations or enabled this”. As a large company, we are committed to respecting human rights and we take the subject seriously.
Andresen wanted to specify to the editor even later that the camera user can choose whether the cameras utilize artificial intelligence features or not.
Iltalehti did not mention human rights in the questions it asked the company.
US-China sabre-rattling?
With the cooling of the relationship between the US and China, suspicions towards Chinese technology have also risen. For example, Tiktok, owned by the Chinese company Bytedance, has attracted a lot of talk about its data protection practices.
– Americans collect data from social media just the same. These are mostly used for building and marketing consumer models, Holmgren of the Institute for Foreign Policy states.
When making technology choices, we are primarily at the edge of an ethical question. In this case, it is worth considering what kind of device manufacturer we want to support and who we allow to manage our data.
– The problem is that it is not yet known what this data can be used for when technology develops.
One of the uses of the data is teaching artificial intelligence technologies, the development of which is rapid. What artificial intelligence technology will eventually develop into based on the collected data, and for what purpose it will be used, no one knows yet.