The Indian government has implemented stricter security certification requirements for internet-connected surveillance cameras. Following this, Amazon and Walmart-owned Indian e-commerce platform Flipkart have started checking the products on their platforms. A Reuters investigation found that out of approximately 770 internet-connected surveillance cameras on these two platforms, over 700 models are not listed in the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) approved brands or surveillance camera database publicly.
According to Reuters on Thursday, two sources revealed that Amazon and Flipkart are currently inspecting internet-connected surveillance cameras sold by third-party sellers and brands on their platforms. Products that do not have the required government approval will be taken down. While Amazon declined to comment, Flipkart did not respond to Reuters’ inquiry.
Since Tuesday, at least ten product pages related to surveillance cameras have been taken down from the two e-commerce platforms. This includes at least two EZVIZ brand cameras under the Chinese company Hikvision. Amazon has marked these products as “currently unavailable.” Additionally, a source disclosed that Amazon has decided to remove the page for Imou, a brand under Chinese company Zhejiang Dahua Technology.
Reuters investigation revealed that at least 8 uncertified WiFi cameras from Hikvision and Dahua were found on the Amazon platform. According to data from the research firm Counterpoint Research, Hikvision and Dahua collectively held about 30% of the surveillance camera market in India last year. Hikvision and Dahua did not respond to Reuters’ requests for comments.
India’s security requirements for surveillance cameras stem from concerns about sensitive image data possibly being transmitted abroad. The regulations were announced as early as 2024 and were implemented from April 2026 onwards, requiring surveillance camera manufacturers to undergo hardware and software testing by the Bureau of Indian Standards before selling their products. Official data from the Bureau of Indian Standards also includes closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras under mandatory certification.
India’s focus on surveillance camera security is also related to espionage concerns. In April this year, the Delhi police announced the busting of a spy network linked to Pakistan, which used SIM card-equipped Chinese surveillance cameras near military facilities in northern India to send real-time images to individuals in Pakistan.
Surveillance cameras have been widely installed in roads, residences, and other places in India in recent years, with the industry estimated at around $4.4 billion. Gulshan Rai, who served as the cybersecurity chief under the former Indian Prime Minister Modi’s government, stated that the unauthorized sale of cameras online poses a “serious security concern.” He explained that once cameras are compromised, they could become surveillance risks and potential network vulnerabilities.
In addition to Chinese brands, Reuters also found similar issues with products from the Indian domestic security brand, Maizic Smarthomes. The company, which claims to be India’s top-selling AI security brand, had 138 “WiFi cameras” listed on Amazon that were not present in the Bureau of Indian Standards’ certification database, including some cameras built into light bulbs.
Santosh Kumar Singh, co-founder of Maizic, informed Reuters that the company has disabled the WiFi streaming feature of the cameras (which provides real-time footage) and the devices can only connect directly with nearby mobile devices until government approval is obtained. He also stated that the company will comply with relevant Indian regulations.
However, Singh further mentioned that many of Maizic’s cameras are not subject to Indian regulations; products requiring approval have been removed from e-commerce platforms and are currently awaiting certification.
Hikvision and Dahua are facing security restrictions in the United States as well. In October 2019, the U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) added them to the Entity List, citing their surveillance equipment’s extensive use by the Chinese authorities in high-tech mass surveillance, arbitrary detention, and human rights abuses against minority groups like the Uighurs. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) prohibits federal government agencies and government contractors from using such equipment.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the United States has also placed both companies on the “Covered List” of threats to national security. Starting from 2022, certification for video surveillance and telecommunications equipment related to these companies has been discontinued, and such devices cannot be used for specific public safety, government facilities, critical infrastructure, or national security purposes.
The certification requirements imposed by India for internet-connected surveillance cameras not only involve product quality and cybersecurity but also reflect the government’s increasing concern about potential data leaks and national security risks posed by surveillance equipment.
As of reporting, the Bureau of Indian Standards has not responded to inquiries about the products on these platforms.