Canada orders Hikvision to shut down operations over national security concerns

The Canadian government has ordered Hikvision Canada Inc. to cease all operations, citing national security risks associated with the Chinese video surveillance firm’s presence in the country.

The decision was announced over the weekend by Mélanie Joly, Canada’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, following a formal review under the Investment Canada Act. The order, delivered to the company last Friday, requires Hikvision to shut down its Canadian business and halt all activities nationwide.

“Following a National Security Review under the Investment Canada Act, the Government of Canada has ordered Hikvision Canada Inc. to cease all operations in Canada and close its Canadian business,” the statement read. Authorities determined that the company’s continued presence “would be injurious to Canada’s national security.”

While specific findings from the review were not disclosed, officials confirmed the decision was informed by Canada’s intelligence and security services through a multi-step investigative process.

In addition to the shutdown order, the ruling prohibits all federal agencies and crown corporations from purchasing or using Hikvision equipment moving forward. The move aligns Canada with other allied nations that have taken similar actions over the past several years, including the United States, which has banned Hikvision devices from federal use due to security concerns.

Hikvision Canada, a subsidiary of China-based Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Co., Ltd., has operated in the country since 2014. The company is the world’s largest manufacturer of video surveillance products, offering a range of technologies including IP cameras, facial recognition systems, smart home devices, and AI-powered industrial automation tools.

Hikvision has come under increasing global scrutiny for its alleged ties to the Chinese government, amid fears that its equipment could be exploited for espionage or unauthorized data collection. Although no definitive public evidence has emerged to support such claims, several Western governments have acted preemptively to limit or eliminate Hikvision’s market access based on security assessments.

In response to Canada’s decision, Hikvision issued a statement condemning the order as politically motivated and lacking transparency. “We strongly disagree with this decision and view it with deep concern, as we believe it lacks a factual basis, procedural fairness, and transparency,” the company said. “Instead of evaluating our technology on its cybersecurity merits, the decision appears to be driven by the parent company’s country of origin, reflecting broader geopolitical tensions and an unjustified bias against Chinese companies.”

Hikvision further noted that it complied fully with Canada’s requests for information throughout the security review process but was not presented with concrete evidence to justify the ban.