In a February interview with Delaware Public Media, University of Delaware professor and cybersecurity expert John D’Arcy discussed the state’s recent TikTok ban for security concerns, including the Chinese government being able to obtain data from Delaware agencies or employees. The First State’s agencies’ and employees’ data is also vulnerable to Chinese theft through the almost half a million dollars it spent on restricted Chinese technology in recent years.
China Tech Threat (CTT) recently reported that Delaware spent $479,918 on technology from Lexmark and Lenovo between 2019 and 2022. As reported in our fact sheet, this technology was purchased by the Office of the Attorney General, the DE Department of State, as well as the University of Delaware and other educational institutions.
This technology, already prohibited by U.S. military and intelligence agencies due to its connection to the Chinese government and military, puts sensitive state data and academic and proprietary research at risk of theft by the government of China. (Read more about Lexmark, Lenovo and two other dangerous Chinese government-owned tech manufacturers in our May briefing paper.)
Banning TikTok on state devices is a good start, but Delaware can do more. Delaware’s legislators should follow the 17 states taking action to ban state agencies from purchasing and deploying Chinese technology to prevent the exposure of government and citizens’ confidential information to the People’s Republic of China. These efforts include South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem signing SB 189 into law in March, Idaho Governor Brad Little signing HB 294 and Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders signing HB 1789 in April, and, most recently, on May 1 Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb signing SB 477.
CTT will continue to monitor the risks to Delaware’s sensitive data and the state’s efforts to protect it.
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