New York cyber law introduces state, local tech purchase restrictions

StateScoop reports that New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has approved new state legislation that would prohibit state and municipal governments from buying certain technologies from companies mandated to provide intelligence to foreign adversaries in a bid to bolster its cybersecurity posture. All restricted technologies, including computers, semiconductors, drones, and other components believed to contain spyware, concealed backdoors, or exploitable vulnerabilities, should be included in a regularly updated list under the purview of the state's chief information officer, according to the law, which will be effective beginning in 2027. Agencies and local governments across New York would only be allowed to purchase restricted technologies if they were given a waiver under limited conditions. "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 leverages billions of dollars in purchasing power to keep dangerous tech off our shores and uplift our domestic semiconductor industry," said Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar, who primarily sponsored the bill.