Concerns Over Chinese Surveillance Cameras in the U.S.
Surveillance cameras manufactured in China possess a hidden capability that allows Chinese military forces to commandeer the networks they’re linked to. These cameras are extensively integrated into vital areas of American infrastructure, sending information to servers controlled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). This creates potential risks for services like water treatment.
Addressing this silent national security issue requires transforming it into a legal framework to eliminate such products from the market, ideally replacing them with more secure alternatives. Florida’s Attorney General James Usmeyer and Nebraska’s Attorney General Mike Hilgers are spearheading efforts to showcase how state consumer fraud laws can safeguard the country from Chinese surveillance intrusion.
Although a federal ban on Chinese surveillance cameras was enacted in 2022, the threat remains. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has ceased approving cameras associated with the CCP, including Duffer and Hi-Vision models. Yet, the number of such cameras linked to critical infrastructure in the U.S. has actually gone up by 40% from 2023 to 2024. The Department of Homeland Security has issued warnings about the dangers of these cameras, as they are often relabeled and sold to consumers without disclosing the associated risks.
If this isn’t a complete deception, it certainly feels like a consumer scam. Usmeyer has called upon Lorex Technologies to explore the connection between their product disclosures and CCP affiliations. Recent reports reveal that millions of Dahua and Hikvision cameras are imported, rebranded, and sold annually, amounting to billions in sales.
It’s crucial for the remaining 48 state attorneys general to join the legal actions to cleanse the market of these compromised cameras and other technologies from China. Manufacturers, re-labelers, and retailers should all be held accountable for the risks posed by these devices. While Florida and Nebraska have strong consumer protection teams, the widespread sale of these cameras calls for unified action from all 50 states. The legal response must parallel historic settlements like those of the 1990s concerning cigarettes.
Concerns about the vulnerabilities of Chinese cameras have been voiced by leading American researchers, who have pointed out numerous compromising factors tied to these devices. In February, reports described a large number of these cameras being used within critical U.S. infrastructure. Dr. Nate Gleason of Lawrence Livermore National Lab testified previously about China’s intentions to integrate itself into the U.S. critical infrastructure framework for malicious cyber activities.
However, the threat posed by these cameras goes beyond critical infrastructure; they are also found in personal spaces like homes, children’s rooms, and even healthcare facilities. This raises alarming possibilities about how the CCP could exploit video feeds from these devices. Investigations revealed inclined sales of hacked footage from Hikvision cameras are circulating on the dark web, often under unsettling categories.
State attorneys general must ramp up their efforts through subpoenas and lawsuits to address this pressing national security matter. If deceit is established, penalties should be maximized to deter fraudulent activities and fund necessary solutions. Legislation should aim to sever ties between state systems and technology linked to the CCP, utilizing penalties from those who violate trust to support American security firms.
It’s becoming clear that prioritizing inexpensive Chinese products comes at a significant cost to national security. State attorneys general must apply more pressure on Chinese cyber threats. FCC Chair Brendan Carr has begun addressing a substantial backlog of vulnerabilities in national security.
With General Usmeyer pushing from Tallahassee and General Hilgers from Lincoln, it’s time for more state legal representatives to join this critical fight. Collaborating with the FCC, FTC, and other bodies, they can pursue joint lawsuits to eliminate infected technology and reclaim the financial advantages gained by the CCP. Only together can they help ensure a stronger legal foundation, protecting against further exploitation of U.S. technology.
