Swann
Lacks transparency. Shows little about where or how its products are made.
Last researched 3 November 2026 · 4 sources
Melbourne-founded maker of home security cameras.
We couldn't find where Swann makes most of its home security cameras and recorders, a certification covering its range or a list of its suppliers.
Also worth knowing
Most electronics are made in countries such as China and Vietnam, where pay is usually below a living wage.
Other TV and audio brands
Nothing we've rated in TV and audio is better than Lacks transparency yet.
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Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 1 of 6 Good requirements.
- Holds the grade back: It has 3 red flags: no evidence of a living wage, unaudited production, probably in high-risk countries and untraced high-risk mined materials. Two or more red flags means a poor grade.
- It isn't Harm on record, because there's no serious confirmed problem on its record.
- Lacks transparency is still a poor grade: in supply chains like this, workers who can't be seen to be treated fairly are usually underpaid or unprotected.
Good requirements 1 of 6
- Not met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: no evidence
- Not met: Respects worker rightsWhere electronics are usually made, such as China and Malaysia, unions are heavily restricted, and it has no full supply chain audit.
- Not met: Supply chain independently audited or certified, or at least 80% made in countries with strong labour standards
- Met: No child or forced labour findings or links
- Not met: Names the factories or farms that make its products, or is fully certified by a scheme that holds and audits that list
- Not met: Traces its cobalt, gold and other conflict minerals to the mine
Red flags 3
- Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
- Red flag: Probably made mostly in countries with poor worker rights, without a full independent audit of its supply chain
- Red flag: Relies on high-risk mined materials it can't traceShown to explain the grade. It isn't one of the 2 red flags that set it.
- Red flag: Fails its category's raw-material check (means Lacks transparency)
Stars it would earn as Good
None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars
Where it's made
We couldn't confirm where Swann makes most of its products, so this shows where electronics are usually made.
| Country | Share | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 55% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| Vietnam | 15% | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Taiwan | 10% | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
| Malaysia | 8% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| South Korea | 7% | No guarantee of rights | Close to a living wage | Low |
| India | 5% | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
Evidence
What we found
- Risk across the industry, not a finding about this company: cobalt, tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold mining carry child and forced labour risk (DR Congo, Indonesia), and assembly overtime is widespread.
- Relies on metals such as cobalt, gold and tin from artisanal mines where miners, including children, face toxic dust, mercury exposure and deadly tunnel collapses. It hasn't shown any steps to trace these materials to the mine, so it's graded Lacks transparency until it does.
Research notes Swann's products are made by contract manufacturers; it has said it uses multiple suppliers in multiple countries and moved its top-end products to suppliers outside China, after dropping Chinese maker Raysharp in 2024. It names no factories or countries and publishes no supplier code, audit results, modern slavery statement or conflict minerals information.
What independent sources say
Sources and actions
Sources 4
Show all 4 sources
- Modern Slavery Register search: swann · search the archive · No Swann statement on the Australian register
- Swann dumps Chinese supplier after US ban (ChannelNews, Dec 2024) · search the archive · Swann dropped supplier Raysharp; uses multiple suppliers in multiple countries; top-end products moved outside China
- Swann, from Melbourne garage to $90m American buyout (TechPartner News, 2014) · search the archive · Founded in Melbourne in 1987; acquired by Chinese surveillance maker Infinova in 2014
- Swann releases indoor/outdoor cameras (ChannelNews, 2019) · search the archive · Sold at JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman, Bunnings, Jaycar and Officeworks
Company details
- Headquarters
- Australia
- Last researched
- 3 November 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Swann ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/swann, last researched 3 November 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Swann.