Texas Governor Greg Abbott has banned the use of certain AI platforms and social media apps on government devices, citing concerns over links to China. Abbott said, "Texas will not allow the Chinese Communist Party to infiltrate our state’s critical infrastructure through data-harvesting AI and social media apps." This move aims to prevent espionage and protect state security, according to the Office of the Texas Governor.
Governor Greg Abbott has banned apps like RedNote, DeepSeek, Webull, Tiger Brokers, Moomoo, and Lemon8 to protect Texas from foreign espionage. He stated, "State agencies and employees responsible for handling critical infrastructure, intellectual property, and personal information must be protected from malicious espionage operations by the Chinese Communist Party." The ban is part of efforts to secure Texas' infrastructure and prepare for threats, as reported by the Office of the Texas Governor.
In 2022, Texas banned TikTok on government devices due to concerns over security risks from the Chinese government. In 2023, a security plan was introduced to address vulnerabilities from TikTok and other apps, with Senate Bill 1893 formalizing the ban. These actions show Texas's focus on digital security amid U.S.-China tensions, aiming to protect sensitive information and ensure cybersecurity, as stated by the Office of the Texas Governor.
