CCTV Crackdown:
Closed-Circuit Television, or CCTVs, you’ve seen them everywhere, perhaps on traffic lights, in office lobbies, in hotels, in elevators, even your local convenience store. Someone is always watching you, but who is watching the CCTVs? Do they pose a security risk? It’s a question that India is trying to address.
India is tracking down on CCTVs, because it turns out they’re not just eyes on the street. They can also be ears for foreign powers. So India has come up with new rules. These are for CCTV makers. If the device is connected to the internet, it needs certification. And that means. Tonight, we’ll discuss why this is important, and we’ll break it down. But first things first, what are these new rules?
Like I said, they’re for any internet-connected CCTV camera, whether made in India or imported. It applies to all. Now, they must pass cybersecurity checks, and that too in government-approved labs. These checks include hardware inspection, firmware testing, and even the right for labs to demand source code. This is especially if the campus. Camera uses custom communication protocols. Companies may also be subjected to factory audits, including those that are located outside India. They can face audits. All devices made or imported after April 9, 2025 fall under this rule.
Now, question number two. Is this move linked to China? Is this because of China?
Now, officially, India has not named China, but the dragon’s shadow looms large over this. You see, China is the world’s largest CCTV manufacturer. They control almost 45% of the global market. And most of India’s CCTVs, or their parts, come from Chinese manufacturers, almost 80% of the components. The two biggest players are Hikvision and Dahua. Both are Chinese giants. Combined, they own about 30% of the Indian market, these two companies.
Question number three. What exactly is the concern?
It’s quite simple. Chinese CCTV cameras are being used for surveillance. And given their history, we wouldn’t. China has a law. It is called the National Intelligence Law. This law says that all Chinese companies must support and collaborate in national intelligence work. Meaning, all Chinese companies contribute to their intelligence network. And that makes any Chinese tech a potential Trojan horse. They’ve been flagged by other countries. Like in 2022, the US banned Chinese CCTV brands like Vision and Dahua. America called them national security risks. Then Australia and the UK flagged restrictions. And now India is concerned.
Question number four. How are manufacturers reacting to all of this?
The likes of Motorola, Bosch, Honeywell, Xiaomi, and Hanwha. They asked for a delay in the rules to be implemented. The government did not agree. Some firms even warned of dire consequences, saying that the policy would impact ongoing infrastructure projects.
Question number five. Will these new rules impact or prevent surveillance from other countries?
Well, that is the goal. Think of these new rules as a kind of digital customs checkpoint. Basically, before your camera enters the country, it has to prove that it is not hiding any spyware. Which is why the rigorous test rules. It must pass all the tests to tell him in there.
And what happens if the company refuses?
Then it is stuck in regulatory limbo. Reports suggest that one such example is Xiaomi. It was told that its testing could not proceed, not until Xiaomi provided extra information about its China-based contacts.
Is this part of a larger pattern?
Yes, it is. Since the 2020 border clashes, India has grown far less tolerant of Chinese tech. India bans TikTok and dozens of other Chinese apps.
It encouraged domestic manufacturing. The CCTV crackdown is just the latest chapter in the story.
It’s about controlling the tools that monitor us.
Will these new rules affect India’s CCTV market?
In 2024, this is where the numbers stood. India’s surveillance market was worth $3.5 billion. By 2030, it is projected to double to $7 billion. The public sector makes up about 27% of this demand. The rest is all thanks to private buyers. There could be some delays in supply going forward. As of May, 342 applications from camera manufacturers were pending. So far, only one foreign company has got the approval. But some Indian players are also benefiting from this crackdown, like the homegrown brand, CP Plus, which already controls nearly half the market.
What is next? More testing? More friction? More surveillance? Compromising on national security? Indian officials say they might approve more testing labs. It may take a while to get this going, but India’s signal is quite clear. If you’re watching us, we are watching you.
