The National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) listed two Chinese manufacturers and suppliers of video surveillance equipment as international sponsors of war. This decision was made because both companies have thriving businesses in Russia, contribute to the Russian budget, and supply dual-purpose equipment that can be used for military purposes.
Hikvision is a Chinese state-owned manufacturer and vendor of video surveillance equipment for civilian and military purposes. It provides a wide range of physical security products, including video security, access control, and alarm systems.
Hikvision has built one of the most extensive marketing networks in the industry, which includes 66 subsidiaries and offices around the world. They serve a variety of vertical markets spanning over 150 countries.
Hikvision operates in the Russian Federation through its official representative office, Hikvision LLC. Their revenue increased by 42% with the start of the full-scale war in 2022, while the net profit increased by 1526%, and the company's staff was doubled.
In 2018, the U.S. Congress passed John McCain's National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Section 889, which prohibited certain telecommunications and video surveillance services and types of equipment. Since then, federal agencies have been barred from buying Hikvision equipment and from entering into official relationships with companies and organizations that use its cameras.
In 2021, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) published a list of manufacturers of communications equipment that pose a threat to U.S. national security. Hikvision is among the top five Chinese companies on the list.
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