Texas Governor Greg Abbott has issued an executive order prohibiting the use of certain Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) and social media applications on state-issued devices, citing national security concerns. The ban is part of an ongoing effort to protect Texas' government infrastructure from potential foreign surveillance and data collection threats.
Why It Matters
The executive order is designed to shield Texas government data from foreign adversaries that may exploit AI and social media applications for surveillance purposes. Abbott's order aligns with previous actions taken by multiple states and the federal government, which have increasingly cracked down on applications developed by Chinese companies due to security concerns.
The governor's directive emphasizes that certain applications pose a "grave risk to the security of Texas' sensitive information and infrastructure." The move is seen as a preemptive measure to mitigate potential cyber threats and prevent unauthorized access to critical government data.
What To Know
Abbott's order specifically targets applications created by Chinese companies or platforms with ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Popular apps such as TikTok have already been banned from use on government-issued devices in Texas since 2022. The new order is expected to expand restrictions to other emerging platforms, such as Lemon8 and Rednote, which are owned by ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, and other Chinese developers.
The U.S. is the second largest audience for TikTok, one of the social media apps previously banned for use on federal devices in Texas. In the midst of a brief ban of the TikTok in early January 2025, many users turned to other apps mentioned in Abbott's proclamation as alternatives.
Under the order, state agencies must ensure that employees remove prohibited applications from all state-issued devices, including government computers, smartphones, and tablets. Agencies are also required to implement monitoring policies to prevent future downloads or usage of restricted applications.
The ban, however, does not extend to personal devices. Texas residents can still legally download and use these applications on their own smartphones and computers, though the governor's office has encouraged individuals to remain aware of potential security risks when using such platforms.
What People Are Saying
Governor Greb Abbott said in a press release: "Texas will not allow the Chinese Communist Party to infiltrate our state's critical infrastructure through data-harvesting AI and social media apps. To achieve that mission, I ordered Texas state agencies to ban Chinese government-based AI and social media apps from all state-issued devices. 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. Texas will continue to protect and defend our state from hostile foreign actors."
What's Next
State agencies are expected to comply with the executive order immediately by reviewing existing security policies and removing any flagged applications from government-issued devices. Additionally, IT departments will be responsible for ensuring ongoing compliance and educating employees on cybersecurity best practices.
The Texas Department of Information Resources will provide additional guidance to state agencies regarding the implementation of the ban. While private citizens are not impacted, ongoing legislative discussions could lead to broader state regulations on the use of foreign-owned applications in Texas.
For further updates and a full list of affected applications, state employees and residents are advised to refer to official communications from the Texas government.
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