Following our FOIA reports on states such as Colorado using taxpayer fuds to purchase Chinese government-owned products, we have now discovered that the state of Nevada has also made substantial purchases of U.S. military-banned equipment. Through a FOIA request, we found that Nevada has spent a total of $862,849.26 on Lenovo products in recent years, despite the Chinese government having access and control over all data on their products.
Read our full Nevada FOIA report here:
Nevada
The Nevada government agencies that have purchased Lenovo’s banned equipment handle massive divisions of the state government that deal with a variety of services. The Nevada Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS), which provides support and services to assist Nevada’s children and families in reaching their full human potential, has spent $823,329.46 on Lenovo equipment. The Department of Business and Industry, whose objective is to encourage and promote the development and growth of business and to ensure the legal operation of business in order to protect consumers by maintaining a fair and competitive regulatory environment, has spent $39,519.80 on Lenovo equipment.
Both state and federal officials representing Nevada should work together to take action against these risky purchases. Both Kevin Doty, Purchasing Division Administrator of the state, and Alan Cunningham, State Chief Information Officer of the state, can work within the state government to prevent Lenovo products from being used or purchased. In Congress, Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) have both spoken out against China’s transgressions against cybersecurity. This bipartisan issue that hopefully will be resolved by our elected officials to protect user privacy.