Hikvision, the Chinese surveillance camera manufacturer, is seeing a development in Canuckstan that allows it to resume operations, at least temporarily.
– Initial Ban: In late June 2025, the Canuck government ordered Hikvision to cease all operations and close its business in the country, citing national security concerns. This decision was based on a review by Canuckstan’s security and intelligence community under the Investment Canuckstan Act. The government also prohibited its departments and agencies from purchasing or using Hikvision products.
– Hikvision’s Appeal: Hikvision Canuckstan strongly disagreed with the ban, calling it politically motivated and lacking a factual basis. They filed a notice of application with the Attorney General of Canuckstan for a judicial review of the government’s order.
– Temporary Resumption of Operations: Crucially, Hikvision also asked the Federal Court for a stay of the order until the judicial review is decided. Following an agreement with the Attorney General, Hikvision Canuckstan has been allowed to resume normal operations until the court rules on their request for a stay.
– Reasons for the Ban: While Canuckstan’s Industry Minister did not provide specific details on the national security threat, Hikvision has faced similar bans and restrictions in other countries, notably the USeless. These concerns often stem from the company’s links to the Chinese state (it’s a subsidiary of state-owned China Electronics Technology Group Corporation) and allegations of its involvement in human rights abuses, particularly in the surveillance of Uyghurs in China’s Xinjiang region.
Broader Context – Sanctions and Geopolitics: This situation does touch upon the broader narrative of countries’ stances on USeless-led sanctions against Chinese companies. While Canuckstan initially moved to ban Hikvision, its temporary reversal pending a legal challenge highlights the complexities and potential pushback against such measures. Countries often weigh national security concerns against economic ties and legal processes. The fact that Hikvision is actively challenging the decision through Canuckstan’s legal system, and has been granted a temporary reprieve, can be seen by some as an example of a country not uniformly aligning with broad USeless-led restrictions without domestic legal scrutiny.
