Oregon’s Spending on Restricted Chinese Technology Leaves Sensitive State Data Vulnerable

In March 2023, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley joined other senators in introducing the Transnational Repression Policy Act, looking to counter transnational repression as a foreign policy priority. Also a policy priority is ending Oregon’s purchasing of restricted Chinese technology making its data vulnerable to Chinese technology aggression.

In a recent report, China Tech Threat (CTT) discovered the state of Oregon spent $69,705 on restricted Chinese technology from Lenovo. Our fact sheet reveals that these risky technologies are in various state agencies, including the Department of Justice, the Legislative Administration Committee, the Department of Environmental Quality, and the Department of Education. Lenovo has been banned by U.S. military and intelligence agencies due to its connection to the Chinese government and military. Contracts with Lenovo leave sensitive data in these departments vulnerable, and Oregon needs to stop PRC infiltration. 

Oregon’s legislators 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. 

Legislation banning state contracts with Chinese technology would put Oregon on the right track to stopping data leaks and harassment from the PRC.

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