The British government has forbidden the use of networking and surveillance equipment manufactured by Chinese companies on sensitive government sites due to potential information security issues.
“Since security considerations are always paramount around these sites, we are taking action now to prevent any security risks materializing,” said Oliver Dowden, the Conservative MP for Hertsmere.
The restrictions will affect all devices “produced by companies subject to the National Intelligence Law of the People’s Republic of China” referencing a law introduced in 2017, which the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has also cited regarding the use of Huawei equipment in telecommunications networks
Government agencies have also been advised that no such equipment should be connected to core networks if installed elsewhere. The updated guidance also recommends departments to consider removing the cameras from less sensitive sites to avoid potential risks.
In a similar move, the US authorities announced a ban on the import or sale of communications equipment deemed “an unacceptable risk to national security,” including devices from Chinese telecoms giants Huawei Technologies and ZTE. The both companies have been included in the list of firms deemed a national security threat by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and the new rules bar future authorizations of their equipment.