STATE ASSEMBLYWOMAN JENIFER RAJKUMAR INTRODUCES BILL TO SAFEGUARD NEW YORK FROM CYBERATTACKS

 

ASSEMBLYWOMAN’S BILL PROHIBITS PROCUREMENT OF TECH THAT THREATENS NATIONAL SECURITY

Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar unveiled her groundbreaking legislation A9312 to shield New York from cyberattacks and keep sensitive data out of the wrong hands. Her bill will prohibit the State and all municipalities from purchasing technology from certain international companies whose products pose a security threat. These manufacturers have close ties to the government of another country that legally requires companies to share any data upon request. Such products have the very real potential to secretly transmit data to that country or act as a back door for it to launch a cyberattack.

This threat to national security is so great that this technology is already banned from federal procurement. The 2018 federal defense authorization bill established a list of banned technology whose use is a security threat. The list expanded in the 2022 defense bill, in which New York’s Senator Charles Schumer inserted language prohibiting procurement of technology containing semiconductors from certain international companies.

Despite the federal procurement bans, New York is among 49 states where municipalities purchase technology from these manufacturers, with contracts in the tens of millions of dollars. This includes $28 million for technology that the Department of Defense banned from its own procurement, having determined that “adversaries could exploit known cybersecurity vulnerabilities that exist.”

Assemblywoman Rajkumar’s bill halts these cybersecurity threats by prohibiting New York State and all municipalities from purchasing technology the federal government banned over security concerns. This will protect sensitive information and bolster cybersecurity in an era where the MTA, New York City Schools, and even the New York State legislature have all been the victims of cyberattacks.

The prohibition on certain imported semiconductors will also support New York’s emerging semiconductor industry. A cornerstone of this industry will be the Micron Technology semiconductor fabrication facility opening in Clay, New York. Last month, President Biden, Senator Schumer, and Governor Hochul announced the $100 billion deal with Micron to develop the plant. It is the single largest private investment in United States history, and will create 50,000 jobs.

Assemblywoman Rajkumar said, “I am committed to keeping New Yorkers safe, and that includes cybersafety. When you decide to purchase tech, you might ask, ‘Does it work well? Is this a good price?’ Likely you do not ask, ‘Is this going to send my data to another country’s government?’ My bill will guarantee that every procurement officer in New York asks this crucial question. From our power plants to our public transit to our servers packed with sensitive information, our procurement decisions determine whether or not there is an open door for hackers. This bill will leverage billions of dollars in purchasing power to keep dangerous tech off our shores and uplift our domestic semiconductor industry.”