American Security Systems are Compromised by China

Russ Walker & Chet Love

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Home and business security systems are supposed to keep Americans safe. Yet very often our cameras, routers, drones, smart locks, and more are compromised, opening the door to surveillance and security risks—often without consumers being any the wiser.

The biggest security threat comes from China. Millions of U.S. homes and businesses rely on electronics and security systems manufactured by companies with direct ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Many of these products are cheap, widely available, and deeply integrated into our daily lives. But the cost we save at checkout comes due later when our personal information and national infrastructure are at risk.

Take Hikvision and Dahua, two Chinese surveillance giants blacklisted by the U.S. government. Their products—used in schools, homes, and even municipal buildings—are capable of sending video data to foreign servers. DJI drones, popular with hobbyists and law enforcement alike, have been flagged by the Department of Defense for transmitting user data back to China. Meanwhile, Wi-Fi routers from Huawei and TP-Link have documented firmware vulnerabilities that make it easy for hackers to steal data, monitor activity, or disable connected security systems.

These vulnerabilities risk more than privacy —they’re a threat to national security. China’s “military-civil fusion” strategy explicitly encourages companies to aid the state in acquiring foreign technology and intelligence. Meanwhile, security systems installed in government offices, power grids, and defense facilities could be exploited to surveil sensitive operations or disrupt vital systems. As 5G and Internet of Things (IoT) devices proliferate, the scope of this threat only grows. Firms like Huawei, ZTE, and DJI don’t just make gadgets—they serve the geopolitical interests of an adversarial regime.

Compounding these risks is the inadequacy of domestic American data storage. You wouldn’t keep your car unlocked on a busy street. Nor would you leave your wallet on a counter in an airport. But Americans regularly—and often unknowingly—have their data housed in less secure overseas facilities unprotected by U.S. oversight.