UK Big Brother Watch: Hikvision Is 'Morally Bankrupt'

Published Nov 13, 2019 13:57 PM
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UK civil liberties advocate Big Brother Watch has condemned Hikvision as being 'morally bankrupt' following IPVM exposing Hikvision marketing Uyghur ethnicity analytics targeted at the persecuted minority.

This creates new challenges for Hikvision in the company's strongest Western market.

"Morally Bankrupt"

Big Brother Watch said this in recent tweets:

Big Brother Watch Overview

Big Brother Watch is one of the UK's main privacy rights organizations (others include Privacy International and Liberty.)

Notably, Big Brother Watch is the chief force behind a campaign to stop UK police from using facial recognition, and are also fighting against private use of the technology.

UK Strongest Western Market for Hikvision

The UK is Hikvision's strongest Western market, where, by all accounts, Hikvision is not only the #1 video surveillance provider but also enjoys loyal public support amongst UK installers.

For example, Hikvision is so well regarded by UK installers that just weeks ago, a Hikvision UK partner quipped that they were 'partners in crime' with Hikvision:

Certainly, that installer is committing no 'crime' but it shows the support Hikvision enjoys that their partner would say this while Hikvision faces ongoing ethical and moral criticism, including the US October sanctions for Hikvision human rights abuses.

Backed By UK Surveillance Camera Commissioner

Not just UK installers but the highest-ranking UK government surveillance official has backed Hikvision.

The UK's Surveillance Camera Commissioner, Tony Porter participated in a Hikvision marketing event at IFSEC in London this June 2019, sitting side by side by senior Hikvision officials:

The Commissioner demonstrated little understanding of Hikvision's background and human rights issues when we interviewed him during IFSEC 2019. 5 months later, after the Big Brother Watch statement, his office tells IPVM that the "Commissioner is not available to provide a comment on this". If or when he is and he does comment, we will add it in.

Financially Very Strong

Not only does Hikvision have strong UK backing, whatever one thinks about their 'moral bankruptcy', Hikvision is financially very strong. Hikvision reported over $7 billion in revenue and over $1.6 billion in profits for 2018.

The numbers are astonishing for video surveillance. Hikvision reports more profits than Axis, the largest Western manufacturer, has revenue. Indeed, Hikvision makes as much money in China in a week than they make in the UK in a year.

This is a company, morals aside, that has little financial need for the criticisms of people in the UK or US.

Building Criticisms Even In The UK

Nonetheless, criticism is building in the UK. Earlier in the year, various MPs criticized Hikvision, most notably this speech by UK MP Karen Lee:

With the revelation of Hikvision's Uyghur analytics and how this has galvanized civil liberty watchers, including Big Brother UK, Hikvision may face more pushback on both sides of the Atlantic.

Vote / Poll

Comments (7)
Avatar
Ross Vander Klok
Nov 13, 2019
IPVMU Certified

Of course it is! However, since some are voting no I would love to hear their argument.

(3)
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #1
Nov 13, 2019

How can you run out of something you never had?

(6)
(8)
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #4
Nov 19, 2019

Supporting their employer?

PS
Phil Shanahan
Nov 19, 2019

My argument is simple, I accidently clicked no instead of yes and realised afterwards there is no way to change\revote!

(1)
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #2
Nov 14, 2019

Why yes, yes they are but.....given some of the current "leaders" of several countries which I won't name, I'd say its becoming the new acceptable global norm. So is Hik (China) REALLY doing anything wrong? We (as in all countries) should make sure we're not electing leaders with similar bankruptcies before we start pointing our fingers.

(4)
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U
Undisclosed #3
Nov 18, 2019

"So is Hik (China) REALLY doing anything wrong?"

this question is laughable. the answer is, without question, YES.

"We (as in all countries) should make sure we're not electing leaders with similar bankruptcies before we start pointing our fingers."

non sequitur - as described at logicallyfallacious.com

(1)
(1)
JH
John Honovich
Dec 09, 2019
IPVM