Lexmark

Georgia’s Early Leadership To Prohibit Purchases of Dangerous China Tech Is An Example For Other States

Posted on by China Tech Threat
As China Tech Threat (CTT) reported in February, Georgia emerged as an early leader with the passage of SB 346 to protect Georgia residents from China intrusion. Authored by State Rep. Martin Momtahan and signed into law in 2022 by Governor Kemp, the law prohibits companies owned or operated by China from bidding on state contracts. This law was timely as CTT’s research showed Georgia recently spent $47,259,946 on restricted Chinese technology from Lexmark and Lenovo. Implementation of this new law will help eradicate the use of Georgia taxpayer dollars to purchase dangerous Chinese technology. Rep. Momtahan has been working for its enforcement and in a February 2023 letter to Georgia’s Department of Administrative Services, he called for the Department… Read More

Kentucky Must Halt Purchases Of Dangerous Tech Due To Improper Ties To China

Posted on by China Tech Threat
In June, Kentucky officials halted the payment of incentives to an electric vehicle battery facility after the U.S. Department of Energy rejected a $200 million loan for the project due to questions about improper ties to China. Kentucky should also halt purchases of restricted Chinese technology manufactured by Lexmark and Lenovo, which the state spent more than $5 million on between 2016 and 2022. As China Tech Threat’s (CTT) research shows, Kentucky spent $5,762,445 on restricted Chinese technology from Lexmark and Lenovo, manufacturers already restricted by U.S. military and intelligence agencies due to their connection to the Chinese government and military. Yet, the state of Kentucky has purchased this technology for its Judicial Branch, Department of Revenue, and State Police,… Read More

Virginia Must Try Again to Prohibit Dangerous China Tech Purchases

Posted on by China Tech Threat
In January 2023, Delegate Emily Brewer sponsored House Bill 2385, which would prohibit state agencies from entering into contracts for goods or services with scrutinized companies. Unfortunately, the bill was weakened by a carve out for companies approved by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, and ultimately failed. Given the more than $5 million the state spent on restricted Chinese technology from Lexmark and Lenovo in recent years, Delegate Brewer’s leadership should be commended, and we urge Virginia lawmakers to take up this issue again to protect Virginia residents’ sensitive data.  China Tech Threat’s (CTT) research reveals Virginia spent $5,786,482 on this risky Chinese technology by manufacturers already restricted by U.S. military and intelligence agencies due to… Read More

Chinese Technology Puts Maryland’s Data At Risk Of Chinese Surveillance And Collection

Posted on by China Tech Threat
Late last year, former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan issued a directive prohibiting the executive branch from using and downloading certain Chinese and Russian-influenced products and platforms due to cybersecurity risks they pose. Also presenting a cybersecurity risk is the more than $60,000 worth of risky Chinese technology purchased by the state in recent years.  China Tech Threat’s (CTT) research reveals that between 2019 and 2020, the state of Maryland spent $61,402 on dangerous technology manufactured by Lexmark, as detailed in our fact sheet. All purchases were by the Department of Health, putting Marylanders’ personal and confidential health data at risk of Chinese surveillance.  Lexmark, along with others, is already restricted by U.S. military and intelligence agencies due to its connections… Read More

CTT Urges South Carolina To Continue Efforts In Stopping PRC’s Infiltration

Posted on by China Tech Threat
In mid-March, the South Carolina State Senate showed its commitment to combating threats from the PRC by approving a bill banning Chinese citizens from buying or controlling property in South Carolina. Its next step should be passing a law to stop the purchase of dangerous Chinese technology which is being used by the Department of Revenue, the Department of Education, and the Office of the Lieutenant Governor. According to China Tech Threat’s (CTT) updated paper, between 2018 and 2023, the state of South Carolina spent $3,854,722 on restricted Chinese technology from Lenovo and Lexmark, as detailed in our South Carolina fact sheet. These specific Chinese companies have been banned from U.S. military and national security networks due to their connections… Read More

New York’s Spending On Risky China Tech Drops Significantly, But Goal Remains No Spending

Posted on by China Tech Threat
China Tech Threat’s (CTT) initial reporting on state spending on risky Lexmark and Lenovo technology revealed that New York spent more than $28 million on technology from these manufacturers. The concerns with New York – home to the world’s financial markets, a leader in modern optics and electronics, a hub for biotech innovation, and soon the home to a $100 billion semiconductor manufacturing plant – deploying so much PRC technology have been well-documented by CTT.  Read more here.  However, CTT’s updated state report released in May 2023 found New York has significantly reduced purchases of this dangerous technology already restricted by the  U.S. military and intelligence agencies due to its connection to the Chinese government and military. The New York… Read More

PA Taxpayers’ Data At Risk of Surveillance Through Risky Chinese Technology

Posted on by China Tech Threat
Legislation sponsored by state Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill prohibiting TikTok on state-owned devices and networks to protect Pennsylvania residents unanimously passed the Senate earlier this year. In addition to this bill, to properly safeguard taxpayers’ data, Pennsylvania should join the growing list of states passing laws to prohibit the purchase of other dangerous Chinese technology.  As China Tech Threat’s (CTT) May briefing paper shows, states continue to use risky technology by Lexmark and Lenovo, manufacturers already restricted by U.S. military and intelligence agencies due to their connection to the Chinese government and military. CTT’s recent research reveals that unlike many other states, Pennsylvania has had no direct spending on this harmful technology since 2019; however, its purchase through third-party resellers is… Read More

Dangerous Chinese Technology Makes Ohio’s Data Vulnerable to PRC Infiltration

Posted on by China Tech Threat
On May 24 Microsoft warned that China-sponsored hackers gained access to critical cyber infrastructure in U.S. government and communications organizations. Similar threats are posed by restricted Chinese technology purchased by many U.S. states, including Ohio which spent more than $200,000 dollars on dangerous PRC technology, making its data and infrastructure vulnerable to Chinese surveillance.  According to China Tech Threat’s (CTT) fact sheet, between 2016 and 2022, Ohio spent $240,194 on dangerous technology from Lexmark and Lenovo, manufacturers already restricted by U.S. military and intelligence agencies due to their connections to the Chinese government and military. This technology was purchased by the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, the Department of Natural Resources, and the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, making sensitive state… Read More

Over $10 Million Spent on Dangerous China Tech Makes Massachusetts Data Vulnerable

Posted on by China Tech Threat
On May 24 Microsoft warned that Chinese state-sponsored hackers compromised critical cyber infrastructure in government and communications organizations. Similar threats are posed by restricted Chinese technology purchased by many U.S. states, including Massachusetts that spent over $10 million, making its data and infrastructure vulnerable to Chinese infiltration.  China Tech Threat’s (CTT) recent research reveals between 2015 and 2023, Massachusetts spent $10,226,739 on dangerous technology by Lenovo, a manufacturer already restricted by the U.S. military and intelligence agencies due to its connection to the Chinese government and military. Yet, as detailed in our fact sheet, this technology is still being deployed by the Bay State’s Judiciary, State Ethics Commission, and Executive Office of Public Safety and Homeland Security, among others.  The… Read More

$479,918 Spent By The First State Causes Security Concerns

Posted on by China Tech Threat
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… Read More