On March 6, Nevada’s CIO issued a New State Security Standard blacklisting TikTok and other applications and technology from state-owned devices, networks, and platforms, including Chinese companies already banned at the federal level. If Nevadans knew of the over $2 million their state spent on restricted Chinese technology from Lexmark, Inc. and Lenovo, Inc., they’d demand that the CIO blacklist these manufacturers, too.
China Tech Threat (CTT) discovered that between 2019 and 2022, Nevada spent $2,706,054 on dangerous technology by Chinese-government owned manufacturers already banned by U.S. military and intelligence agencies due to their connection with China’s government and military. As our fact sheet shows, this risky technology is being used in the Attorney General’s Office, the Department of Motor Vehicles, and the Department of Health and Human Services. Through the use of this dangerous technology, sensitive and confidential data held by these agencies is at risk of Chinese surveillance. (Read more about Lexmark, Lenovo and two other dangerous Chinese government-owned tech manufacturers in our May briefing paper.)
Blacklisting TikTok and other harmful technology is a commendable first step, but the Silver State can do more. Legislators in Nevada 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 threats to Nevada’s sensitive data and infrastructure and any efforts the state makes to protect it from Chinese surveillance.
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