History
Dahua was founded in 2001 by Fu Liquan and some of his former colleagues from a state-owned electronics equipment factory.[6] The company initially focused on manufacturing digital video recorders.[6] In 2008, Dahua Technology undertook its initial public offering on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.[10] In 2018, Dahua acquired security video camera company Lorex.[11][12] By 2019, following the rollout of the Chinese government's "Sharp Eyes" surveillance program, Dahua had grown to become the second largest video surveillance company in the world.[5]
Dahua is a provider of a suite of digital Smart City products which are marketed for "Safe Cities."[13] In November 2020, Dahua won a US$9 million, 1,900-camera smart city project with the public security bureau of Jiexiu.[14] In April 2021, Motorola Solutions announced that IndigoVision, a Motorola Solutions-owned company, would no longer relabel Dahua cameras, citing U.S. NDAA and supply-chain concerns.[15]
In 2021, Best Buy, Home Depot, and Lowe's stopped selling cameras from Dahua brand Lorex due to concerns about Dahua's complicity in surveillance and human rights violations in Xinjiang.[16] The Security Industry Association, a U.S.-based trade organization representing electronic and physical security solutions providers the United States, terminated Dahua Technology's membership on 1 June 2021, citing unnamed violations of its code of ethics.[17][18] In November 2021, Dahua was named in the Secure Equipment Act as one of several entities prohibited from receiving U.S. telecommunication equipment licenses due to national security reasons.[19] During the same month, Dahua provided an electronic security system to processed food company Empresa Panamena de Alimentos (EPA) in Panama.[20] At the end of 2022, Dahua Technology entered into an agreement to sell Lorex to Taiwan-based Skywatch for $72 million.
In 2022, Dahua provided video technology for the Beijing Winter Olympics.[25]
Dahua Technology provided technical support and smart applications for Yellow Dragon Sports Center during the 2022 Asian Games.[26]
In July 2023, Dahua Technology signed an agreement with the Semper Altius School Network and the Anáhuac High School Network in Mexico.[27]
Dahua was a sponsor of the 2023 Tour de Langkawi.[28] It was one of the providers of the main security systems for the 2023 Pan American Games.[29] In April 2023, Dahua designed a security project for Ibagué.[30] In November 2023, Dahua sold 90 million of its Leapmotor shares to Stellantis, ending their equity affiliation.[31]
In 2024, Dahua sold its shares in its U.S. subsidiary, Dahua Technology USA, to a unit of Central Motion Picture Corporation.[32] The same year, Taiwan's Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau announced an investigation into Dahua for allegedly obfuscating its presence on the island by setting up "two private locations" and listing its employees as working for another company.[33][34]
Sanctions and bans
In November 2022, the UK prohibited the use of Dahua equipment in government buildings.[4]
In February 2023, Australia's Department of Defence announced that it will remove cameras made by Dahua from its buildings.[35]
In June 2023, Ukraine's National Agency on Corruption Prevention included Dahua on its International Sponsors of War list for allegedly supplying military equipment to Russia.[36] In March 2024, Ukraine removed public access to the list.[37]
In December 2023, Quebec banned the use of Dahua technology in government.[38]
