The United States is facing increasing cyber threats from China and other adversaries. In response, a bipartisan group of lawmakers has introduced legislation to impose new restrictions on the purchase of technology by the U.S. government.
In a concerted effort to address the escalating cyber threats posed by China and other adversaries, a bipartisan group of lawmakers has introduced legislation to establish stricter regulations on the procurement of technology by the U.S. government. This initiative is led by Representative Pat Fallon (R-Texas), whose proposed bill seeks to safeguard U.S. technology by requiring federal agencies and offices to exclusively purchase from "original equipment manufacturers" or "authorized resellers."
This measure aims to eliminate the risk of acquiring equipment from third-party sources potentially linked to hostile nations, such as China, Russia, or Iran. As Congressman Fallon aptly notes, these "gray market" sellers market counterfeit hardware, providing adversaries with a gateway into U.S. government systems and facilitating subsequent cyberattacks.
Cyber Threats: Bipartisan Effort to Combat Chinese Influence in US Technology
The urgency of this matter cannot be overstated, as the U.S. faces a barrage of "millions of attacks daily." The growing sophistication of artificial intelligence (AI) technology further exacerbates the situation, making cyberattacks more easily executed.
The House bill, known as the Securing America's Federal Equipment (SAFE) Supply Chains Act, has garnered bipartisan support in the Senate, where Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Gary Peters (D-Mich) are spearheading a companion bill.
Cyber Threats: Bipartisan Effort to Combat Chinese Influence in US Technology
The "gray market" phenomenon revolves around the unauthorized sale of genuine products through alternative channels. This practice has gained traction in the high-tech sector, costing manufacturers billions in lost revenue.
China's prevalent technology gray market has come under scrutiny, with reports indicating that Chinese firms have circumvented U.S. export controls to acquire advanced American AI chips for military and research purposes.
Cyber Threats: Bipartisan Effort to Combat Chinese Influence in US Technology
The proposed legislation seeks to thwart this practice by preventing China from employing intermediaries to conceal illicit sources and inundate the U.S. market with compromised products.
"This legislation will prevent the federal government from even being at risk of being duped into procuring these harmful products," emphasized Congressman Fallon.
The heightened global instability and heightened threats necessitate a proactive approach to safeguarding vulnerable systems from cyberattacks and intrusions. This bipartisan effort represents a crucial step towards securing the nation's technological infrastructure.
