In a bold move, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has issued an executive order banning Chinese-backed apps, including the AI-powered DeepSeek, social media app RedNote, and lifestyle app Lemon8, from all state government devices.
The decision comes amid rising concerns over data security and the potential influence of the Chinese Communist Party.
DeepSeek, which recently gained popularity for surpassing OpenAI’s language models, has faced scrutiny for allegedly storing U.S. user data in China.
Governor Abbott emphasized that the ban is necessary to protect state information from potential cybersecurity threats.
“The security of Texas’ government systems is our top priority. We cannot allow foreign entities to gain access to sensitive information,” he stated.
This move makes Texas the first state to ban these specific apps from government devices. Experts suggest that other states may follow Texas’ lead as national discussions around data security continue.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has issued an order banning the AI app DeepSeek and social media apps RedNote and Lemon8 from government devices, citing concerns over data security and potential Chinese Communist Party influence.
This move makes Texas the first state to take such action against these Chinese-backed apps.
DeepSeek, which recently outperformed OpenAI and caused a significant dip in tech stocks, reportedly collects U.S. user data stored in China. RedNote has become popular as an alternative to TikTok, which has faced its own bans and restrictions in the U.S.
