UK government to set deadline for removal of Chinese surveillance cams
- Reference: 1686209414
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2023/06/08/uk_government_china_cam_removal/
- Source link:
News of the not-very-imminent deadline came with on Tuesday with the publication of [1]proposed amendments [PDF] to the Procurement Bill – legislation that will reform many aspects of the UK government's practices for buying stuff. Which it does to the tune of around £300 billion ($373 billion) each year.
The proposed amendments include a clause requiring "Removal from the procurement supply chain of physical surveillance equipment produced by companies subject to the National Intelligence Law of the People's Republic of China." Within six months of the bill being passed – which is on the cards to happen next week – the UK Secretary of State is required to inform Parliament of a timeline for removal of the offending kit.
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None of which means UK government maintenance workers need to start figuring out if Chinese cameras were affixed with slotted or Philips head screws – not exactly, not yet – but does mean the [3]November 2022 plan to bin Chinese cameras is being acted upon.
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The proposed amendments to the bill include establishing a "National Security Unit for Procurement." Based out of the Cabinet Office, said unit "will investigate suppliers who may pose a risk to national security, and assess whether companies should be barred from public procurements."
The Cabinet Office [6]announcement states "The specialist team will work across government, including liaising closely with our intelligence agencies."
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The unit will proactively survey the supplier landscape "and will recommend to Ministers which suppliers should be investigated for debarment." If a minister recommends debarment, the relevant suppliers will be placed on a naughty list that indicates they are not to be considered for some government contracts.
That process is outlined in a second measure added to the bill, that would create "New powers to ban suppliers from specific sectors, such as areas related to defence and national security, while allowing them to continue to win procurements in non-sensitive areas."
[8]US bans Chinese telecoms imports – won't even consider authorizing them
[9]UK bans Chinese CCTV cameras on 'sensitive' government sites
[10]USA adds two more Chinese carriers to 'probably a national security threat' list
[11]Calls for bans on Chinese CCTV makers Hikvision, Dahua expand
Other elements of the bill likely to keep government techies (and Register hacks) busy include publication of government procurement data and "a new exclusions framework that will make it easier to exclude suppliers who have underperformed on other contracts."
Government agencies will also be required to pay small business contractors within 30 days.
The surveillance tech removal program is likely to result in removal of kit from Chinese state-owned CCTV manufacturers like Hikvision and Dahua. The USA and [12]Australia have already ordered made-in-China cams removed.
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Hikvision has previously told The Register "it is categorically false to represent Hikvision as a threat to national security." ®
Get our [14]Tech Resources
[1] https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/58-03/0249/amend/procurement_rm_rep_0606.pdf
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_security/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2ZIGmwRwrTZ7UTjqK6TuNzgAAAM4&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[3] https://www.theregister.com/2022/11/25/uk_government_china_cctv_ban_/
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_security/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZIGmwRwrTZ7UTjqK6TuNzgAAAM4&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_security/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33ZIGmwRwrTZ7UTjqK6TuNzgAAAM4&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[6] https://www.gov.uk/government/news/procurement-bill-strengthened-to-protect-national-security
[7] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_security/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZIGmwRwrTZ7UTjqK6TuNzgAAAM4&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2022/11/27/fcc_china_equipment_authorization_ban/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2022/11/25/uk_government_china_cctv_ban_/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2022/09/21/fcc_puts_pacific_network_and/
[11] https://www.theregister.com/2022/07/05/uk_ban_hikvision_dahua/
[12] https://www.theregister.com/2023/02/10/australian_government_removes_chinese_cameras
[13] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_security/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33ZIGmwRwrTZ7UTjqK6TuNzgAAAM4&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[14] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Security Risk?
There's a low risk of info being phoned home if the network security is correctly handled. There's a limited number of addresses and users who need to see the data streams from these cameras and Shirley that can be handled with an IP/Security plan and a half-decent hardware firewall. The fact that they're worried about data being sent to China implies that the cameras have got unfettered access to the web, which is a security risk looking to be exploited not matter where the bloody cameras are made.
The downside?
How long until we start hearing "sorry, your honour, we have no CCTV evidence, the government made us remove the cameras"?
Re: The downside?
This scenario would never arise if the cops got off their arses and did their jobs properly by gathering evidence from interviewing eyewitnesses, making door-to-door inquiries, checkimg alibis, using forensics, searching the crime scene and so on. That takes a bit more effort than eating doughnuts while watching CCTV.
IMO, unless there's indeoendent corroboration CCTV images must be inadmissible as evidence. The "witness" can't be cross-examined and the authenticity of their "evidence" can't be tested.
Snoopercams uber alles
Getting shot of China's spyware/crapware is all very well. But it misses the point. Why are our streets and public spaces swarming with spy cameras? And why has there been no proper discussion or public engagement on this pervasive mass surveillance?
When the Chinese cameras get removed, it would be nice if they didn't get replaced. That won't happen however. Just like there will never be any objective cost/benefit analysis on the use and costs of this gross violation of civil liberties. And its operation outsourced to Crapita of course.
I'd be happier if they'd just ban Chinese everything.
What did you type that on?
Does that include whatever you used to post this comment and just about all the electrical devices in your house?
Piss off, then I’d starve to death!
"the relevant suppliers will be placed on a naughty list that indicates they are not to be considered for some government contracts."
Unless they are called Crapita, Serco, KPMG....
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-toughens-rules-to-exclude-underperforming-suppliers
Erm... that was announced back in Dec 2021
Little question..
Just to be sure, the kit that is going to replace the gear they remove is surely as thoroughly screened and the results made public as the gear it replaces, right?
Right?
Yeah, thought so.
Someone is making a mint here - and we're paying. Again.
"Government agencies will also be required to pay small business contractors within 30 days."
This should be law for everyone.
My brother went out of business as he spent more time chasing people for payment than actually doing the jobs!