US Proceeding with Ban Against Video Surveillance with Chinese Components

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The US government is taking a firm approach towards the integrators or users of systems by Chinese manufacturers. The Department of Defense intends to proceed with the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) ‘blacklist clause’ that prohibits the purchase and installation of video surveillance equipment by Dahua, Hikvision, and Huawei video surveillance.

Dahua and Hikvision are among the leading global market players in the video surveillance field, alongside Honeywell Security Group, Bosch Security Systems, Hanwha Techwin, according to publicist360.com.

The Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for DoD Acquisitions, Katie Arrington, stated in March that “in August of 2020, if any of our contractors in the Department of Defense or our industrial base have Huawei, ZTE, or Hikvision video surveillance cameras, or telecoms, we can no longer do business.”

She added that “If COVID-19 has shown us anything, getting our own supply chain, making sure that we are taking care of home first is crucially important to our national defense.”

While the first year of NDAA action simply prohibited the US federal government from buying or using banned products,. now, the second year (starting in August 2020) extends that ban to anyone who wants to do business with the federal government.

DoD spokesperson confirmed to IPVM that Arrington’s comments included Dahua as well, noting: “her comments applied to each company covered by the statute (section 889).” The DoD also confirmed that products containing Huawei as an ‘essential component’ would also be included in this move.

The blacklist clause has caused significant concern due to fears that it will blacklist every Hikvision, Dahua, and Huawei HiSilicon chip user from selling to the US government. These users have hoped that the Trump administration would water down the rule as actual implementation details are drafted.

However, Arrington’s comments are the latest proof that the federal government intends to apply the law thoroughly and as it was originally intended.