Photo by Pawel Czerwinski on Unsplash
Canada Orders Chinese Surveillance Camera Company To Cease Operations In The Country
- Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert
- Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager
The Canadian government ordered the Chinese surveillance camera company Hikvision to close operations in the country on Friday. The Industry Minister, Melanie Joly, said the decision was made over national security concerns.
In a rush? Here are the quick facts:
- Canada ordered Hikvision to cease operations in the country due to security concerns.
- The Chinese surveillance camera manufacturer has been previously accused of human rights abuses and cybersecurity vulnerabilities.
- Hikvision said it “strongly disagrees” with the government’s decision.
According to Joly’s public statement , the government has determined that the activities of Hikvision—also known as Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Co. Ltd.—could pose a threat to Canada’s national security.
“This determination is the result of a multi-step review that assessed information and evidence provided by Canada’s security and intelligence community,” wrote the minister. “The Government of Canada is prohibiting the purchase or use of Hikvision products in government departments, agencies, and crown corporations.”
Joly added that the Canadian government is reviewing existing property and welcomed foreign investment that doesn’t compromise the country’s national security. The minister did not disclose more details on how the company has been threatening national security.
According to Reuters , the United States has already issued multiple sanctions and restrictions against Hikvision in the past few years, due to the company’s use of equipment and its alleged involvement in human rights abuses. Hikvision has been previously reported for documenting abuse against muslim communities in China’s Xinjiang region.
Hikvision expressed its discontent with the Canadian government’s decision.
“We strongly disagree with this decision and view it with deep concern, as we believe it lacks a factual basis, procedural fairness, and transparency,” said a spokesperson from Hikvision to Reuters. “Instead of evaluating our technology on its cybersecurity merits, the decision appears to be driven by the parent company’s country of origin, reflecting broader geopolitical tensions and an unjustified bias against Chinese companies.”
The company urged the Canadian government to consider facts and a transparent environment.
Hikvision has also faced recent cybersecurity challenges. A few months ago, the FBI warned about a malware known as HiatusRAT targeting Chinese camera manufacturers. The agency mentioned Hikvision and Xiongmai among the companies with vulnerabilities exploited by malicious actors.
Photo by Wesley Tingey on Unsplash
Humanoid Robots Play Soccer Tournament in China
- Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert
- Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager
Beijing hosted the inaugural RoBoLeague 3‑on‑3 humanoid robot soccer tournament this weekend. Four teams from different universities competed using humanoid robots from the Chinese company Booster Robotics.
In a rush? Here are the quick facts:
- Beijing hosted the inaugural RoBoLeague 3-on-3 humanoid robot soccer tournament this weekend.
- All AI-powered robots, prepared by four university teams, operated fully autonomously throughout the competition.
- Booster Robotics supplied the T1 humanoid models used in the tournament.
According to Associated Press (AP) , the event was a success thanks to the entertainment provided by the fully autonomous, AI-powered machines. The match offered a preview of the upcoming World Humanoid Robot Games, set to take place during the World Robot Conference in August.
Although the robots did not demonstrate physical abilities or skills on par with high-performance athletes, the sporting event attracted new fans due to its use of cutting-edge technology. The competition sparked an enthusiasm that China’s official national soccer team—currently ranked 94th in FIFA’s world rankings—has not managed to generate recently.
Booster Robotics provided the machines, T1 humanoids, used for the competition. The company’s CEO and founder, Cheng Hao, shared his vision and expectations for the future of the technology in the sector.
“In the future, we may arrange for robots to play football with humans. That means we must ensure the robots are completely safe,” said Cheng to AP. “For example, a robot and a human could play a match where winning doesn’t matter, but real offensive and defensive interactions take place. That would help audiences build trust and understand that robots are safe.”
Tsinghua University’s THU Robotics won the tournament, with a score of 5-3, beating the China Agricultural University’s Mountain Sea team.
According to NBC News , each robot was equipped with multiple sensors that allowed them to identify the ball in the field, play, and stand up after falling—although a few of them needed human help, and others were taken off the field by human paramedics.
China has already held multiple sporting events featuring humanoid robots this year. In April, the first half marathon between robots and humans took place, and just a few weeks ago, the first kickboxing event between AI-powered machines using advanced technology was held.
