Thurrock Council Refute 5G Security Risk

No security risk linked to 56 surveillance cameras purchased from controversial Chinese company Hikvision, says Thurrock Council.

17:38 10 June 2019

Thurrock Council has insisted that the 56 CCTV cameras they purchased from controversial Chinese company Hikvision do not pose security threat.

 

Hikvision, which is one of the biggest suppliers of CCTV equipment to the UK, has been accused of supplying much of the technology behind oppressive surveillance states in Tibet and a northwest region of China.

 

The concerns have been discussed by the US and Australia governments, who had placed restrictions on the use of Hikvision technology.

 

Thurrock’s council leader Rob Gledhill, said: “Thurrock Council operates just 56 of the estimated 1.3 million Hikvision cameras installed throughout the UK. There is no security risk to the council’s CCTV cameras.

 

“All of the council’s CCTV cameras are operated on a closed network and a secure IT system, which prevents any third party access to its platform.

 

“The cameras have no internet access through council firewalls whatsoever, they are not connected to any wireless networks and our network prevents third parties gaining access to the cameras.”

 

The council is yet to respond when asked on its view on using taxpayer money to purchase products made by a company implicated in human right abuses.