Hikvision surveillance technology in the Irish Parliament: Rights concerns discussed on Newstalk Breakfast

February 13th, 2023. Our UCD Centre for Digital Policy Director Elizabeth Farries spoke with Newstalk Breakfast regarding the human rights, security, and historical concerns of the Hikvision surveillance cameras used by the Irish government.

Liz noted that these concerns attached to the Irish government contracting Hikvision technology for surveillance purposes date to 2019. She commented that the established record of rights abuses and security breaches associated with this company make this technology too risky for use by public officials in Ireland.

Dr. Krish Shrishak with the Irish Council for Civic Liberties has written to the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission and others calling for the the removal of the surveillance cameras from the Dail and Seanad.

The EU, UK, the USA and lately Australia have all banned Hikvision cameras due to several security concerns, including data transfer reports back to China.

You can listen the conversation below: