Genesee News

Michigan lawmakers have taken steps to address foreign influence in the state by advancing a package of bills aimed at protecting sensitive information and infrastructure from countries considered adversaries. State Rep. Phil Green (R-Flint) highlighted these efforts in a recent column published by the Lapeer County Press.

Green explained that the new legislation seeks to prevent foreign entities from obtaining critical data or gaining strategic footholds within Michigan. "Earlier this year, I voted to advance bills that combat foreign influence from countries of concern in Michigan. These plans will help safeguard our residents, security and economy from various threats," Green stated.

A key provision of the legislative package blocks certain apps developed by companies based in China from being used on government devices. Green noted concerns about potential ties between these companies and the Chinese Communist Party, which could enable surveillance through app usage. "This is a commonsense change in a world where technology plays an ever-increasing role in communication and information can change hands easier. Some popular apps have been developed by companies based in the People’s Republic of China and have been subject to scrutiny regarding their potential ties and affiliations with the Chinese Communist Party. These ties can result in the government’s ability to mine the apps for surveillance, and we should curtail this ability where we can," he wrote.

The legislation also aims to strengthen protections around personal health information by requiring healthcare record technology for Michigan residents to be stored physically within the United States or Canada. According to Green, data breaches are already common—last year, an average of 61 large healthcare data breaches were reported each month nationwide, affecting millions of people. "If these breaches come from a hostile foreign adversary or an entity that is working closely with one, the fallout could be profound. This would be a needed safeguard to protect people’s information behind the most robust security systems in the world, instead of outsourcing it elsewhere," Green said.

Another aspect of the bills targets land purchases near military bases or critical infrastructure by foreign entities on federal watch lists. The measures also require disclosure of any gifts or agreements between public bodies and such entities, aiming for greater transparency regarding possible foreign interests influencing local decisions. "People have the right to know that their elected officials are working in their best interests and the best interests of a community — not the interests of a foreign government," Green wrote.

The package covers several nations identified as adversarial on federal lists: China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela under Nicolas Maduro's regime, and Syria.

"Our nation’s adversaries and their governments have consistently attempted to wrestle away influence, subvert sovereignty and assert soft power in many countries across the globe," Green wrote. He emphasized that U.S. laws need updating to keep pace with evolving threats posed by these countries.

Green concluded his column by citing Thomas Jefferson: “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.” He argued that continued attention is needed on this issue so that American values such as property rights and individual privacy remain protected against outside interference.