Georgia State Representative Martin Momtahan

Georgia State Rep Calls on Department to Implement Law That Restricts Use of Risky Chinese Tech

Posted on by China Tech Threat
Georgia has emerged as an early leader in passing policies restricting Chinese tech infiltration. In the latest action, Georgia State Rep. Martin Momtahan who authored Georgia’s law that prohibits enterprises owned or operated by the People’s Republic of China from submitting bids for state contracts (SB 346) this week issued a letter to Georgia’s Department of Administrative Services urging the law to be enforced. Since Governor Kemp signed the bill into law in May 2022, other states have followed and have taken action. In September, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis released Executive Order 22-216 directing his state’s Department of Management Services to counter Chinese tech threats. In addition, several other states are also currently considering legislation to prohibit the use of restricted Chinese technology.… Read More

Momentum Builds Behind State Actions to Ban Risky Chinese Tech

Posted on by China Tech Threat
This spring, Georgia enacted a law that prohibits companies owned or operated by China to bid on or submit a proposal for a state contract. Governor Brian Kemp signed the bill into law in May 2022, calling it “proactive step to enhance our technological and economic security.” The necessary and timely legislation is critical to helping Georgia close the state-federal tech threat disconnect. While the level of risk the use of China-owned technology presents to our national and economic security is so high that it is restricted by the U.S Military, the State Department, our intelligence agencies and elsewhere, these restrictions don’t transcend to the state level. With a March AP report revealing that the Chinese government broke into the computer networks… Read More

4 State Policy Ideas to Counter China Tech Threats

Posted on by China Tech Threat
China Tech Threat (CTT) released a memo to state policymakers offering four specific policy ideas to counter China threats at the state level. CTT has been closely tracking the state-federal tech threat disconnect, and warning that while federal agencies and the U.S. military have rightly taken action to restrict the use of tech makers with ownership ties to the government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) due to the security risks they pose, those policies are not necessarily adopted at the state level. The memo cites a March 2022 AP report on at least six state governments that were hacked by the Chinese government in the last year. CTT’s own report that found 40 states continue to use Chinese… Read More

GA State Rep. Momtahan Explains State Solutions To Counter China Tech Threats  

Posted on by China Tech Threat
China Tech Threat Co-Founder Dr. Roslyn Layton talked with Georgia State Representative Martin Momtahan just days after Governor Brian Kemp signed into law his bill, SB 346, that will prohibit the State of Georgia or any state agencies from contracting with any company owned or operated by the Chinese government.    During the conversation, Rep. Momtahan explains the impetus for his legislation to protect individuals, businesses and government infrastructure in Georgia from technology threats posed by China intrusion and influence. He shares how his experience working in technology security as far back as 2010 helped him recognize the need for stronger state-level restrictions to match similar technology security policies at the federal level, including the Department of Defense.   Rep. Momtahan also explains… Read More