Why Canada Banned Hikvision: National Security vs. Geopolitics

Canada has taken a definitive stance in the escalating global scrutiny of Chinese technology, ordering surveillance giant Hikvision to cease all operations within its borders. Citing national security concerns and acting on the advice of intelligence agencies, the Canadian government has banned the use of Hikvision products across its public sector, initiated reviews of existing installations, and aligned itself with a growing international movement to curtail the influence of Chinese state-linked tech.

This podcast unpacks the details of Canada’s decision and places it within the broader geopolitical, regulatory, and cybersecurity context. Hikvision, already the subject of U.S. sanctions due to its alleged role in surveillance activities in China’s Xinjiang region, now finds itself at the center of a new wave of Western pushback. The ban raises serious questions about the intersection of security, foreign investment, human rights, and technology policy.

In this episode, we explore:

• The Canadian government's justification for banning Hikvision, based on classified intelligence and national security assessments
• Hikvision's rebuttal and China’s diplomatic protest, framing the ban as a politically motivated and discriminatory act
• The growing body of restrictions against Chinese technology in the U.S., including NDAA §889, CFIUS interventions, and state-level bans
• Concerns over Hikvision’s alleged role in surveillance of Uyghur populations and its connection to broader human rights issues
• The tactics used by Chinese tech firms to circumvent restrictions, such as “white-labeling” of devices
• Key risks associated with Chinese-made surveillance equipment, including backdoors, weak encryption, and remote server control
• How Canada’s updated Investment Canada Act (ICA) is reshaping the foreign investment landscape with pre-closing reviews, enhanced penalties, and increased focus on SOEs
• The trend of “de-risking” versus “decoupling” from Chinese tech and what this means for Canada’s digital infrastructure strategy
• The geopolitical fallout of the ban, especially as it relates to Canada-China relations and ongoing concerns about cyberespionage campaigns targeting Canadian networks
• Strategic considerations for critical infrastructure, public procurement, and private sector organizations in response to the shifting regulatory terrain

This episode is essential for anyone tracking global technology policy, cybersecurity, and national security in the digital age. As nations wrestle with balancing innovation, economic cooperation, and the imperative to secure their critical systems, Canada’s Hikvision ban signals a decisive step—and a broader trend of growing friction between Western democracies and Chinese state-linked technology providers.