Hikvision

Hikvision (full name: Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Co., Ltd.) is a Chinese multinational company that is one of the world’s largest suppliers of video surveillance products and solutions. Here's a detailed overview:

Company Overview

Founded: 2001
Headquarters: Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
Ownership: Partially state-owned (Chinese government through CETC – China Electronics Technology Group Corporation – is a major shareholder)
Stock Exchange: Listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange (ticker: 002415.SZ)

Core Products and Services

1. Video Surveillance Equipment

IP cameras (network cameras)
Analog cameras (HDTVI)
Digital video recorders (DVRs)
Network video recorders (NVRs)
PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom) cameras
Thermal imaging cameras

2. AI and Smart Solutions

Facial recognition systems
License plate recognition (LPR/ANPR)
Smart retail analytics
Traffic monitoring and smart city systems

3. Access Control and Intercom

Biometric and RFID access control systems
Video intercoms

4. Alarm and Intrusion Detection

Motion detectors
Intrusion panels

5. Software Platforms

Hik-Connect (mobile app for remote viewing)
iVMS-4200 (video management software)
HikCentral (enterprise-level integrated security platform)

Global Presence

Hikvision has a strong international presence with subsidiaries and sales offices across:

North America
Europe
Middle East
Latin America
Asia-Pacific
It serves customers in over 150 countries.

Controversies and Criticism

1. Security and Privacy Concerns

Accused by various countries of potential espionage risks due to alleged ties with the Chinese government.
Concerns about data security, especially when equipment is used in sensitive infrastructure.

2. Sanctions and Bans

U.S. Sanctions: In 2019, the U.S. added Hikvision to the Entity List, restricting American companies from selling technology to it.
U.S. NDAA Ban: U.S. government agencies and contractors are banned from using Hikvision products.
Other Countries: Australia, UK, and some European nations have restricted or reviewed Hikvision’s role in public surveillance.

3. Human Rights Allegations

Alleged to have supplied surveillance systems used in Xinjiang, contributing to the mass surveillance of Uyghur Muslims. This has drawn widespread criticism and sanctions.