Canada Orders Hikvision Shutdown Plus Federal Product Removal and Ban

In an unprecedented move, even considering Hikvision, and compared to US government action, the Canadian government has announced sweeping bans against Hikvision, including:

• Order to shut down Canadian operations: Hikvision Canada Inc. must cease all activities in Canada and wind up its Canadian business under the Investment Canada Act national-security provisions.
• Federal procurement ban: All Canadian government departments, agencies, and Crown corporations are prohibited from purchasing or using Hikvision equipment going forward.
• Legacy equipment purge: Federal authorities are auditing existing facilities to identify and remove any Hikvision products that are already in place.
• Public advisory to Canadians: The government “strongly encourages” Canadians and Canadian organizations to consider the national-security determination when making their own decisions about Hikvision products.

The details of Hikvision's national security review have not been publicly disclosed to date.

The Canadian government posted the decision on X on June 27, 2025:

We are checking for more details and information, as if implemented as described, this would be the most complete and significant ban we have seen globally. In 2019, Hikvision dissolved its North American Business Unit, splitting Canada and the USA. However, at that time, it was widely viewed as protecting its Canadian business from US government action.

Hikvision's USA business continues to operate, though it has significantly declined since US government actions started in the late 2010s. See Hikvision USA Revenue 2018 to 2025 Analyzed.

Buying Hikvision in Canada

Our reading of the public statement is that private individuals can still buy Hikvision products (i.e., this "does not extend to Hikvision's affiliate operations outside of Canada. However, I strongly encourage all Canadians to take note of this decision and make their own decisions accordingly.")

That implies, to us, that private Canadians could buy Hikvision products from other countries (e.g., directly from PRC China or, theoretically, possibly even the United States). That said, as a practical matter, most businesses using surveillance products expect local sales and support, and with the order for Hikvision Canada to cease operations, this will block that. Moreover, as the impact of the US government's actions on Hikvision USA has shown, having one's government declare a company a security risk is a significant negative factor in sales.

However, sales to price-sensitive buyers are the most likely to continue, based on the pattern we have observed in the United States with Hikvision's declining sales.

Past Actions

There were no public signs of this significant action, though some signs of issues for Hikvision in Canada in the past year included:

• Canadian Sanctions Proposal for Hikvision, Dahua, Uniview, and Tiandy (2024)
• Quebec's Hikvision Ban (2024)
• Hikvision Removed from Security Canada Expos (2024)

For years, Hikvision North America was run by Canadian resident Jeffrey He, who left Hikvision earlier in 2025.

Other Bans

See our Where Dahua and Hikvision Are Banned Directory for other regions with various bans covering various uses.

One question this raises is, what, if any, other countries might pursue similar action?

Response From Hikvision

Hikvision Canada posted on LinkedIn, on June 28, 2025, objecting to the decision ("strongly disagree[s] with this decision and view[s] it with deep concern"), with counterclaims including:

• Hikvision believes the decision "lacks a factual basis, procedural fairness, and transparency."
• Hikvision states: "Instead of evaluating our technology on its cybersecurity merits, the decision appears to be driven by the parent company's country of origin."
• They claim the decision reflects "broader geopolitical tensions and an unjustified bias against Chinese companies."
• Hikvision asserts: "We provide Canadians and Canadian businesses with some of the best in market products designed to ensure the safety and well-being of local communities."
• They state their products "meet strict security requirements and comply with all applicable Canadian laws and regulations."
• Hikvision claims: "Throughout the review, we fully cooperated with all government parties" and that they provided "timely and comprehensive responses along with detailed documentation and proactive engagement."
• Hikvision argues: "the government imposed its decision without presenting evidence or addressing the facts we provided."

They concluded by "urg[ing] the Canadian government to base its actions on facts rather than prejudice" but without calling for any appeal.

A screencap of their full post below:

Response From the PRC Government

The PRC China government has responded via state media, The Global Times, citing a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Canada who stated that China is "strongly dissatisfied with and firmly opposed to" Canada's order for Hikvision to cease operations. The spokesperson claimed the move has "severely harmed the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of Chinese enterprises" and "disrupted normal economic and trade cooperation between China and Canada."

It concludes that "China urges the Canadian side to immediately change its course" and that "China will take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises."

Further Response From Hikvision

On June 29, 2025, PRC state media The Global Times ran an additional report, citing Hikvision on the reasons they say Canada issued the order:

The company told the Global Times that Canadian government's move is allegedly based on a misinterpretation of China's National Security Law and National Intelligence Law and unjustly targets Hikvision due to its state-owned shareholding structure.

Hikvision was created and remains controlled by the PRC China Government. Learn more about the PRC's National Security and Intelligence Laws.

We will continue updating our reporting with new developments.