Dahua Cameras: Where Are They Manufactured?

Dahua Technology, commonly known as Dahua, is a publicly traded company based in Hangzhou, China, that manufactures video surveillance equipment. The company was founded in 2001 by former defence industry technician Fu Liquan and initially focused on manufacturing digital video recorders. Dahua has since expanded its product line to include a range of video surveillance equipment, including IP cameras and DVRs. In recent years, Dahua has been sanctioned by various governments due to its links to the Chinese government and its involvement in the mass surveillance of Uyghurs in Xinjiang, China. Despite these concerns, Dahua remains a popular brand for DIY enthusiasts and continues to operate in many countries worldwide.

Dahua Technology is based in Hangzhou, China

Dahua Technology, formally known as Zhejiang Dahua Technology Co., Ltd., is headquartered in the Binjiang District of Hangzhou, China. The company was founded in 2001 by former defence industry technician Fu Liquan, who serves as Dahua's chairman and the secretary of its Communist Party committee.

Dahua initially focused on manufacturing digital video recorders. Over the years, the company has expanded its product portfolio and now offers a full lineup of products, including video surveillance equipment, intelligent computing devices, and smart city solutions.

In 2018, Dahua acquired Lorex, a security video camera company. This acquisition, along with the rollout of the Chinese government's "Sharp Eyes" surveillance program, contributed to Dahua's growth and establishment as a leading player in the video surveillance market.

As of 2021, Dahua is the second-largest video surveillance company in the world in terms of revenue. The company has a global presence and provides its products and services to a diverse range of clients, including government agencies, businesses, and consumers.

Dahua has been subject to scrutiny and sanctions by various governments due to its links to the Chinese government and allegations of complicity in human rights violations. Despite this, the company continues to operate and expand its business globally, providing innovative solutions in the field of video surveillance and smart city technologies.

Dahua is the second-largest video surveillance company in the world

Dahua Technology, commonly known as Dahua, is a publicly traded company based in Binjiang District, Hangzhou, China. It is the second-largest video surveillance company in the world in terms of revenue, after Hikvision.

Dahua was founded in 2001 by former defence industry technician Fu Liquan, who serves as the company's chairman and the secretary of its Communist Party committee. The company initially focused on manufacturing digital video recorders. In 2008, Dahua Technology went public on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. In 2018, Dahua expanded its business by acquiring the security video camera company Lorex. Following the rollout of the Chinese government's "Sharp Eyes" surveillance program in 2019, Dahua became the second-largest video surveillance company in the world.

Dahua is a prominent provider of a suite of digital Smart City products marketed for "Safe Cities." The company has been involved in several notable projects, including providing video technology for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and technical support and smart applications for the Yellow Dragon Sports Center during the 2022 Asian Games.

In terms of products, Dahua is well-known for its Starlight ultra-low-light cameras, which are a popular choice among DIY enthusiasts. The company offers a full lineup of products, including its Starlight cameras, HDCVI cameras, IP cameras, and DVRs.

Dahua has faced scrutiny and sanctions from various governments due to its ownership ties and links to the Chinese government. Despite this, Dahua remains a significant player in the global surveillance camera market, and its products are widely used and distributed.

Dahua's products are banned in several countries

Dahua Technology is a Chinese company that manufactures video surveillance equipment. It is the second-largest video surveillance company in the world in terms of revenue. The company has faced scrutiny and bans in several countries due to concerns related to national security, human rights violations, and complicity in mass surveillance.

In the United States, Dahua was added to the Entity List by the Bureau of Industry and Security in 2019 for its role in the mass surveillance of Uyghurs in Xinjiang. The John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act further barred the use of Dahua equipment in federal contracts. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has also banned the sale of Dahua equipment in the country and declared that the company's services and equipment pose an unacceptable risk to national security. Several US states, including Indiana, Louisiana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, South Dakota, and Wisconsin, have also implemented bans or restrictions on the use of Dahua products.

In the United Kingdom, the government prohibited the use of Dahua equipment in government buildings in November 2022. Additionally, several UK cities and town councils, such as Edinburgh, Tonbridge, and Malling, have banned or removed Dahua products from their surveillance systems.

Other countries and entities that have banned or restricted Dahua products include Lithuania, Taiwan, Australia, Ukraine, Quebec, the European Parliament, and various companies and institutions. Lithuania banned China-made technology, including Dahua, for approximately 400 agencies, giving them until 2025 to replace existing devices. Taiwan banned the use of Dahua and other Chinese tech products across its government in 2021. Australia's Department of Defence announced the removal of Dahua cameras from its buildings in 2023. Ukraine included Dahua on its International Sponsors of War list in 2023 for allegedly supplying military equipment to Russia. Quebec banned the use of Dahua technology in government in 2023. The European Parliament removed Dahua and similar companies from its premises in 2021, citing human rights abuses.

The bans and restrictions on Dahua products highlight the concerns of governments and entities worldwide regarding national security, human rights, and mass surveillance.

Dahua is partially owned by the Chinese government

Dahua Technology, commonly known as Dahua, is a video surveillance equipment manufacturer based in Hangzhou, China. The company was founded in 2001 by former defence industry technician Fu Liquan, who is also the company's chairman and the secretary of its Communist Party committee.

Dahua is a publicly traded company, and as of 2023, a minority of the company is state-owned, with approximately 11.67% state ownership. China Mobile, a state-owned telecommunications provider, is Dahua's second-largest shareholder, owning 10.42% of the company as of 2021. Combined with the stakes held by Central Huijin Asset Management (1.05%) and China Galaxy Securities Co., Ltd. (1.82%), the state ownership amounts to 11.67%.

Dahua's products have faced scrutiny and restrictions in several countries due to concerns over privacy, human rights abuses, and potential use for spying by the Chinese government. In 2023, the UK prohibited the use of Dahua equipment in government buildings, and Australia's Defence Department announced the removal of Dahua cameras from its premises. The US has also banned Dahua equipment from federal contracts and placed the company on the Entity List for its role in the mass surveillance of Uyghurs in Xinjiang.

Dahua's partial state ownership has raised concerns about the potential involvement of the Chinese government in the company's operations and the security implications for countries using their surveillance equipment.

Dahua's cameras have been found to have security vulnerabilities

Dahua Technology is a Chinese company based in Hangzhou that manufactures video surveillance equipment. It is the second-largest video surveillance company in the world after Hikvision. Dahua has been found to have security vulnerabilities in its products, which have been exploited by attackers to gain unauthorised access and compromise devices.

In 2016, a botnet attack on KrebsOnSecurity.com was traced back to a vulnerability in Dahua cameras and DVRs. Nearly one million Dahua devices were infected with the BASHLITE malware, which allowed attackers to take full control of the underlying Linux operating system. This was used for both DDoS attacks and extortion campaigns using ransomware.

In 2017, security researchers discovered a backdoor in many Dahua cameras and DVRs that allowed unauthorised access to device databases and live feeds. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to turn cameras into tools for launching cyberattacks. Despite Dahua issuing a firmware update, security researchers found that the updated firmware still contained the same vulnerability, suggesting deliberate deception.

In 2022, a vulnerability was found in Dahua's Open Network Video Interface Forum (ONVIF) standard implementation, which could be abused to compromise network cameras by replaying credentials. This was tracked as CVE-2022-30563 and impacted several Dahua products.

Other security vulnerabilities in Dahua products include the ability for attackers to send crafted data packets to crash devices, obtain sensitive information, perform unrestricted file uploads and downloads, and enable or disable services. These issues highlight the potential risks posed by IoT security camera systems, especially when deployed in critical infrastructure facilities.

As a result of these security concerns, Dahua products have been banned or removed from use in several countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada. Dahua has also been implicated in human rights violations and mass surveillance of Uyghurs in Xinjiang, China.

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