The US blacklisted eight Chinese technology companies for tracking minorities in China, the Treasury Department said in a statement on Thursday. 

"These eight entities actively support the biometric surveillance and tracking of ethnic and religious minorities in China, particularly the predominantly Muslim Uyghur minority in Xinjiang," it said.

US persons will be prohibited from purchasing or selling certain publicly traded securities connected with the firms.

The entities include Cloudwalk Technology Co., Ltd.; Dawning Information Industry Co., Ltd.; Leon Technology Company Limited; Megvii Technology Limited; Netposa Technologies Limited; SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd.; Xiamen Meiya Pico Information Co., Ltd. and Yitu Limited.

"Today’s action highlights how private firms in China’s defense and surveillance technology sectors are actively cooperating with the government’s efforts to repress members of ethnic and religious minority groups," said Brian E. Nelson, Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence.