South Korea removes 1,300 Chinese surveillance cameras over security concerns
- In Reports
- 12:30 PM, Sep 14, 2024
- Myind Staff
South Korea's military has recently taken action to remove approximately 1,300 Chinese-made surveillance cameras from various military bases due to concerns over potential security risks. According to a report by Yonhap news agency on Friday, citing an unnamed military official, the decision was made after it was discovered that the cameras were designed to connect to a specific server in China. However, the report clarified that no data had been leaked as a result of this setup.
The surveillance equipment, which had been supplied by a South Korean company, was found to have originated from China during routine equipment inspections earlier this year. Despite this discovery, the official noted that the cameras were not being used for high-security operations, such as monitoring the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea. Instead, the cameras were installed for less critical purposes, such as monitoring training groups and perimeter fences at the military bases.
In response to the potential risk, South Korea’s defence ministry announced on Friday that it is actively collecting the foreign-made cameras and replacing them with alternative systems. However, the ministry declined to officially confirm the cameras' country of origin, maintaining a cautious stance in its public statements.
This incident is part of a broader trend of countries reassessing the use of Chinese-made surveillance equipment over security concerns. In a similar move, Australia’s foreign minister announced last year that both its defence and foreign ministries were removing surveillance cameras made by Chinese-run firms from their facilities. This came amid growing reports that such technology could pose a significant security threat, particularly due to concerns over potential data breaches and foreign interference.
The removal of Chinese surveillance cameras reflects increasing caution in South Korea and other countries regarding the use of foreign technology in sensitive areas, particularly in defence and security-related sectors.
Image source: Firstpost
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