Radio France Internationale (RFI) Chinese Edition recently reported that the Amsterdam city councilor responsible for information and communications technology policies said that Amsterdam’s city government will stop using CCTV systems and cameras made in China due to concerns over human rights and espionage. Chinese-made devices are expected to be phased out within five years.
There are currently 1,280 Chinese-made cameras in Amsterdam used for various municipal tasks such as surveillance or monitoring of road traffic. In May 2023 the City Council passed a motion calling on the mayor to stop using monitoring devices made in China because they could transmit data and images to the manufacturer, to the Chinese government, or both. There are also concerns that Chinese camera manufacturers may be complicit in human rights abuses in China, including abuses against the Uyghurs.
All organizational units in the city of Amsterdam must look for alternatives to Chinese equipment; each organizational unit can assess alternatives’ feasibility and cost on its own. The city government will also ban intermediary suppliers from sourcing from Chinese manufacturers.
The Association of Dutch Municipalities (VNG) said many municipalities are struggling to resolve the issue of dependence on Chinese devices. The VNG will share details of the Amsterdam procurement contract terms and incentives with all other municipalities.
Source: RFI Chinese, June 11, 2024
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