800 Chinese CCTV Cameras Banned In EU Parliament Installed in Children’s Hospital
The unveiling of an extensive security plan involving the installation of over 800 CCTV cameras by Chinese firm Hikvision at the new National Children’s Hospital in Dublin has sparked a significant debate on privacy and data protection. This decision has drawn particular attention because Hikvision’s equipment has previously been prohibited in several parliamentary buildings across the EU, US, UK, Denmark, and Australia due to espionage concerns. Amidst the ongoing discussion, some members of the hospital development board and Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) have expressed discomfort, with one source calling the number of cameras “overkill” and questioning their necessity in a medical facility.
Comparatively, the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, accommodating over 50,000 people, operates with just 240 CCTV cameras, while St Vincent’s University Hospital installed a mere 116 cameras. The choice of Hikvision is particularly contentious, as the company is partly owned by the Chinese state and has been implicated in human rights abuses against Uyghur Muslims in China. Furthermore, the technology’s capabilities, such as panoramic views and potential for facial recognition, have raised alarms, although CHI has decided against using facial recognition software.
The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) has labeled the number of cameras as “excessive” and insists that while CCTV can serve legitimate security purposes, its deployment must be proportional and respectful of individual privacy. The ICCL had previously flagged concerns about Hikvision’s involvement in the project, due to the company’s troubling human rights record and the advanced surveillance capabilities of their cameras.
The hospital, compared in size to the Dundrum Town shopping centre yet featuring twice as many cameras, is a testament to the growing tension between security measures and privacy rights. With the new hospital’s opening yet to be scheduled, and costs already exceeding €2 billion, the debate on privacy, GDPR compliance, and the ethical use of surveillance technology continues to intensify, highlighting the need for a balanced approach that safeguards both security and individual rights.
Source: 800 Chinese CCTV Cameras Banned In EU Parliament For Children’s Hospital
