Thread by @CharlesRollet1

NEW: Hikvision is refusing to respond to pointed questions from the UK's Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner (@BSCCommissioner) such as "whether your camera technology has in fact been used in the Uyghur internment camps" ipvm.com/reports/hik-uk… via @ipvideo

@BSCCommissioner also asked Hik - a major UK #videosurveillance provider - "whether you accept that basic premise, namely that crimes are being committed against the Uyghurs" & whether Hik had "knowledge of the use(s) of its surveillance camera systems in the internment" camps?

yet Hikvision has so far refused to answer, offering a meeting instead, which the Commissioner declined until Hikvision provides a written and public "substantive response"

@BSCCommissioner's inquiries were in response to Hikvision's letter to partners denouncing the UK Foreign Affairs Committee's rec to ban Hikvision over #Xinjiang human rights abuses

Hikvision said the rec was "knee-jerk" and "unsubstantiated", "not underpinned by evidence"

Yet Hikvision's latest financial disclosures show it is contracted to *build and operate* five huge Xinjiang police projects - which include surveillance systems for Xinjiang's infamous 're-education' camps and mosques

The Norwegian government's @CouncilOnEthics independently concluded that these five Hikvision projects mean Hikvision's "human rights abuses" are "ongoing" ipvm.com/reports/noway-…

overall, Hikvision is in a tight spot - it is increasingly dependent on the UK and Europe for overseas revenues due to US bans/sanctions. but its deep #Xinjiang involvement means this may not be sustainable

and kudos to @Direthoughts for covering this first for @BusinessInsider

https://twitter.com/Direthoughts/status/1423572819951116289

UPDATE: Hikvision responded, ignoring most of the Commissioner's Qs & stating it's "very difficult" to "publicly answer narrow pointed questions" due to "kangaroo trial by media", falsely claiming "operational matters are not within our remit" (despite its huge XJ police deals)

The Commissioner's office told @ipvideo it accepted Hikvision's offer to meet Ambassador Pierre-Richard Prosper, the DC lawyer Hikvision hired who determined Hik did not "knowingly or intentionally" abuse human rights in Xinjiang.

Full Hik response below:
gov.uk/government/pub…