Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has expanded the state’s list of technologies banned from use on state-issued devices and government networks, adding dozens of companies with ties to China, including Shein, Temu (PDD), Alibaba, Baidu, Xiaomi, TCL, and Hisense.
The move follows a threat assessment by the newly established Texas Cyber Command, which identified specific hardware, software, and artificial intelligence tools as potential cybersecurity and data privacy risks. State officials say the restrictions are designed to prevent foreign adversaries from harvesting sensitive data or exploiting government systems.
The ban currently applies only to state agencies and employees, not private consumers. However, officials emphasized broader concerns about consumer data protection and national security, signaling that scrutiny of technology linked to foreign interests is intensifying.
Gov. Abbott said hostile actors can use AI applications and connected devices to manipulate users and compromise data. Under a January directive, the Texas Cyber Command has been designated as the lead agency responsible for identifying and evaluating technologies that pose risks to state systems.
The action comes amid ongoing lawsuits by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton against major smart TV manufacturers, alleging unlawful data collection without consumer consent. Those cases have raised additional privacy and national security concerns involving companies with ties to China.
Why it matters:
The decision highlights Texas’s increasingly aggressive stance on cybersecurity, data sovereignty, and foreign technology influence. This approach could shape future regulations affecting consumer tech companies, global e-commerce platforms, and AI developers operating in or selling to U.S. markets.