UK partner letter on Foreign Affairs Committee report, 12 July 2021 (accessible version)
Updated 15 November 2023
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12 July 2021
Update on Foreign Affairs Committee Report
Dear Valued Partner:
The House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee published on 8th July its report entitled “Never Again: The UK’s Responsibility to Act on Atrocities in Xinjiang and Beyond.” One of the recommendations called for Hikvision to be banned in the UK. This was reported by media outlets including The Times, The Independent and The Guardian.
The report draws on the views of two academics, that shared their concerns about data collected from facial recognition cameras that could be used by the Chinese Government. On human rights the report states cameras made by the Chinese firm Hikvision have been deployed throughout Xinjiang and provide the primary camera technology used in the internment camps. This is unsubstantiated and not underpinned by evidence. Based on these assertions the Committee has recommended a ban on Hikvision. This knee jerk response is entirely disproportionate, ill-measured, and reinforces the notion that this is motivated by political influences.
This is a staggering leap for the Committee to make, and is not based on any concrete evidence. Having done so, this sends an unacceptable message to all those that support evidence based policy making. Hikvision has engaged with the UK Government and many politicians around the world in recent years as part of our commitment to openness and transparency.
Hikvision has invested significant resources to strengthen its corporate governance framework including retaining Arent Fox, led by human rights expert and former US Ambassador Pierre-Richard Prosper, to advise on human rights compliance. Importantly, following an investigation, the Arent Fox team concluded that, ‘In the end, we do not find that Hikvision entered into the five projects in Xinjiang with the intent to knowingly engage in human rights abuses or find that Hikvision knowingly or intentionally committed human rights abuses itself or that it acted in wilful disregard.’
Meanwhile, we hold our products to the industry’s highest global cybersecurity standards and strictly follow all applicable data protection laws, regulations, and norms of operating around the world and in the European Union (EU), including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
We anticipate the Government will respond to the Committee report in the Autumn. During this time we will work with the Government to provide a well-rounded perspective to policy making and moving away from personal agendas. We are confident that the Committee’s review process will result in a positive outcome over the next few months. We remain as committed as ever to supporting our partners without interruption, and delivering high quality products and services that our customers demand. It is our mission to continue to protect people, buildings and the communities we serve.
If you have any questions do not hesitate to get in touch.
Yours sincerely,
Justin Hollis
Marketing Director – Hikvision UK & Ireland
Hikvision UK & Ireland
4 The Square
Stockley Park
Uxbridge
UB11 1ET
Tel: +44 (0) 1628 902 140