In March of 2023, more than 100 residents in rural Michigan revolted against a decision to allow Chinese-owned firms to build a battery plant in the area, wanting to protect their land from the threats of the PRC. The revolt made it clear Michigan residents do not want ties to China within the state. One way Michigan leaders can heed the concerns of residents is by ending contracts with government restricted Chinese technology companies.
In our recent report, China Tech Threat revealed that the state of Michigan spent $3,428 on restricted Chinese technology from Lenovo, that the state does not provide any details on which departments use the technology, (see our Michigan fact sheet here).
This dangerous Chinese government-owned technology from Lenovo leaves key Michigan information at risk. Personal health and medical data, as well as highly sensitive financial and legislative information, could be made vulnerable to Chinese espionage by the use of this dangerous technology by manufacturers already restricted by US military and intelligence agencies due to its connection to the Chinese government and military. (Read more about Lenovo and three other dangerous Chinese government-owned tech manufacturers in our February briefing paper.)
As a model, Michigan’s legislators can look to 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 Chinese government. 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.
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