Security cameras guarding Britain's most revered democratic symbol, Magna Carta, are being protected by Chinese CCTV companies accused of aiding genocide and espionage.
A letter from the World Uyghur Congress (WUC) to Salisbury Cathedral, which houses one of four surviving copies of the document, has sparked concerns that Dahua Technology's cameras may be used to spy on sensitive sites. The WUC claims that Dahua's low-light surveillance cameras have been implicated in genocide and crimes against humanity.
Meanwhile, another Chinese company, Hikvision, provides security for Greece's Parthenon temple, sparking similar worries about the potential misuse of its technology. Campaigners are now calling for both companies' cameras to be removed from these sites.
Dahua Technology boasts on its website that its surveillance systems help ensure the safety of a copy of Magna Carta, sealed by King John at Runnymede in 1215. However, the WUC has labeled Dahua as complicit in "genocide or crimes against humanity" due to its involvement in facial recognition systems used to identify and persecute the Uyghur people.
The World Uyghur Congress warns that surveillance cameras made by these companies can be hacked by hostile forces, revealing sensitive information about security breaches. Oleksii Kuprienko, a Ukrainian organization representative, has shared examples of footage from surveillance cameras being accessed online during Russian missile strikes, which he claims was part of psychological warfare designed to intimidate civilians.
In response, Dahua Technology denies any involvement in targeting specific ethnic or national groups and asserts that its products adhere to the highest international standards of cybersecurity. However, it suspended shipments to Russia following the country's invasion of Ukraine.
The incidents have sparked fresh concerns about China's influence on Britain's cultural heritage sites and the role of CCTV companies in global espionage.
A letter from the World Uyghur Congress (WUC) to Salisbury Cathedral, which houses one of four surviving copies of the document, has sparked concerns that Dahua Technology's cameras may be used to spy on sensitive sites. The WUC claims that Dahua's low-light surveillance cameras have been implicated in genocide and crimes against humanity.
Meanwhile, another Chinese company, Hikvision, provides security for Greece's Parthenon temple, sparking similar worries about the potential misuse of its technology. Campaigners are now calling for both companies' cameras to be removed from these sites.
Dahua Technology boasts on its website that its surveillance systems help ensure the safety of a copy of Magna Carta, sealed by King John at Runnymede in 1215. However, the WUC has labeled Dahua as complicit in "genocide or crimes against humanity" due to its involvement in facial recognition systems used to identify and persecute the Uyghur people.
The World Uyghur Congress warns that surveillance cameras made by these companies can be hacked by hostile forces, revealing sensitive information about security breaches. Oleksii Kuprienko, a Ukrainian organization representative, has shared examples of footage from surveillance cameras being accessed online during Russian missile strikes, which he claims was part of psychological warfare designed to intimidate civilians.
In response, Dahua Technology denies any involvement in targeting specific ethnic or national groups and asserts that its products adhere to the highest international standards of cybersecurity. However, it suspended shipments to Russia following the country's invasion of Ukraine.
The incidents have sparked fresh concerns about China's influence on Britain's cultural heritage sites and the role of CCTV companies in global espionage.
, considering all the bad things those companies have been involved in... genocide, spying etc. its like, you cant be sure they wont be using them to snoop on people or something 
. and what if theres a hack? like, oleksii kuprienko said it happend with russian missile strikes 
. so yeah, maybe it would be better to use another company 
, can't believe our beloved Magna Carta is being protected by Chinese companies that are allegedly linked to human rights abuses 
. I mean think about it, these companies are basically selling security cameras to some of the most sensitive sites in Europe and potentially putting people's lives at risk 
. And what really gets me is that Dahua Technology is like "oh no we're not targeting any specific groups" but how can we trust them when they've got a history of involvement with facial recognition systems used to persecute the Uyghur people? 
it's just too much, I think we need to take a closer look at our tech suppliers and make sure we're not putting our values at risk 
.
I'm all for transparency and accountability, but let's not jump to conclusions here... 
dahua tech claims its all legit but the world uyghur congress is all "nah fam, ur complicit in genocide" lol. i mean who doesnt love a good game of global espionage tho? 
anyway, it just shows how china's influence is gettin real and we gotta be aware of our surroundings (and cctv cameras) 
I'm really worried about this. Our beloved landmarks like Salisbury Cathedral are protected by cameras from Chinese companies that are allegedly involved in some pretty serious stuff. I mean, how can we be sure that our historical treasures aren't being used to spy on us? 
It's not just about the cameras themselves, it's about the potential for them to be hacked and used against us. Oleksii Kuprienko's got some solid points there. And let's not forget, these cameras are protecting a piece of British history – we should be making sure our cultural icons aren't compromised by foreign interests. I'm all for transparency and accountability when it comes to our security systems. We need to make sure we're not creating an open door for espionage or human rights abuses. It's time to think outside the box (or in this case, the camera lens) 
. I mean, we all know about Dahua Technology's involvement with facial recognition systems used to persecute the Uyghur people... it's like, how can we trust their cameras at Salisbury Cathedral? 
. And let's be real, if our CCTV companies are being used for espionage, that's a major security breach 
how can we trust them to keep our history safe? 
plus, what if those cameras get hacked & sensitive info gets out... 
shouldn't british museums be using local security firms instead? 