Chinese-made security cameras are being ripped from ‘sensitive’ Australian government buildings after fears they could send data back to Beijing
- Chinese surveillance units found in government buildings
- The Chinese government partially owns the companies that make the devices
- The secretary of defense said the cameras would be removed
Australia’s defense secretary claims Chinese-made surveillance cameras and equipment are being removed from sensitive Australian government buildings, amid fears the equipment could send data back to Beijing.
“We are conducting an assessment of all the technology for surveillance within the perimeter of the defense perimeter and where these particular cameras are found they will be removed,” Richard Marles told ABC.
“It’s an important matter that has been brought to our attention and we will fix it.”
An audit uncovered the shocking amount of Chinese-made devices scattered around government buildings, including devices installed in offices run by the Defence, State Department and Attorney General’s Offices.
More than 900 Chinese surveillance cameras and devices linked to China’s communist government are installed in Australian government buildings (pictured is a surveillance camera in front of the Parliament building).
The cameras and recording equipment are manufactured by Chinese companies Hikvision and Dahua, both partly owned by the Chinese government.
There are believed to be more than 900 cameras in government buildings.
Surveillance equipment from Hikvision and Dahua was either banned or severely restricted in the United States and the United Kingdom last November.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese dismissed concerns about China’s reaction to the announcement and whether removing the equipment would further damage bilateral ties
“We are acting in accordance with Australia’s national interest,” he said.
“We do this transparently. We will continue to do so.”
A six-month scrutiny of all Commonwealth departments by Shadow Cybersecurity Secretary James Paterson led to the discovery of multiple surveillance cameras and recording equipment in government buildings.
Surveillance cameras were found in all departments except for the Prime Minister and Cabinet and Agriculture Department.
The Attorney General’s Department had the highest number of surveillance units, with 195 devices installed in 29 locations.
The cameras and recording equipment are manufactured by Chinese companies Hikvision and Dahua, both partly owned by the Chinese government (pictured Chinese President Xi Jinping).
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured) wasn’t concerned about China’s reaction to the announcement that Hikvision and Dahua devices would be removed
The number of units installed in each office was counted, but some departments could not give exact figures as to how many.
Senator Paterson’s review was triggered after the Home Office failed to answer how many surveillance units were installed in government buildings.
He urged the government to rip out all cameras and equipment immediately after the audit was completed.
“This poses a unique national security risk for Australia,” he said.
“With Hikvision and Dahua devices installed throughout the Australian government, including at the heart of our national intelligence agencies, the companies and their employees could be forced to provide the Chinese government with 24/7 access to valuable surveillance data.”
“We urgently need a plan from the Albanian government to rip every one of these devices out of Australian government departments and agencies.”
In addition to the MoD, the Australian War Memorial and the National Disability Insurance Agency have also pledged to remove any cameras found at their sites.
Shadow Cybersecurity Secretary James Paterson (pictured) conducted an audit of all government departments