House China Panel Presses FBI to Halt Certifications for 32 Chinese Firms

The US House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party has asked the Federal Bureau of Investigation to suspend issuing product certifications to 32 Chinese companies that the panel says have ties to China’s military or surveillance apparatus. In a letter dated 15 July, the lawmakers cited national security risks and highlighted concerns that the FBI’s certification program could facilitate the entry of potentially compromised hardware and software into critical US networks. The committee singled out video-surveillance equipment maker Hikvision among the companies listed, arguing that its products are already restricted by other federal procurement rules. The panel urged the FBI to review and, where appropriate, revoke previously granted approvals. The FBI had not publicly responded at the time of the request.