US Bans These 8 Chinese Tech Companies Due To Their Human Rights Violation

On October 07, the US Department of Commerce announced that it has added Hikvision and 07 other Chinese tech companies into the economic blacklist. The reason behind this move was because these companies allegedly violated human rights against Uighur Muslims, as well as other Muslim ethnic minorities.

Some of the tech companies include the biggest supplier of video surveillance products Hikvision, Zhejiang Dahua Technology Co. - a company that specializes in providing video surveillance services and products, Yixin Science and Technology Co., Pico Information, Xiamen Meiya Pico Information, and IFLYTEK. In addition, 20 Chinese government agencies from the public security bureau to the police college in Xinjiang province also appear on this list.

In the federal register notice released on October 07, the US Department of Commerce said, "Specifically, these entities have been implicated in human rights violations and abuses in the implementation of China's campaign of repression, mass arbitrary detention, and high-technology surveillance against Uighurs, Kazakhs, and other members of Muslim minority groups.''

In terms of Hikvision, this tech company rapidly protested the decision of the US government. In the past, US lawmakers accused it of creating a “high-tech police state” for the Chinese government.

According to a spokesman from Hikvision, "Hikvision has been engaging with Administration officials over the past 12 months to clarify misunderstandings about the company and address their concerns. Punishing Hikvision, despite these engagements, will deter global companies from communicating with the US government, hurt Hikvision's US businesses partners and negatively impact the US economy."

The spokesman also noted that the company had asked Pierre-Richard Prosper, a former Ambassador of the United States, for the consultation concerning complying with human rights.

In September, Mike Pompeo, who previously worked as the CIA director and now serves as the secretary of state, believed that the government in China had made efforts to eradicate Muslim culture in the northwest regions. As a piece of evidence, thousands of the Uighurs were put in a prison referred to as “re-education camps” by the Beijing government. Till now, Beijing has refused the accusation.

According to the Entities List, US companies are not allowed to purchase components and chips manufactured by the banned companies without the approval from the US government. Back in June, Huawei along with 04 other tech companies in China was added to this list due to their allegedly national security issues.