Texas Governor Enforces Ban on DeepSeek and RedNote for State Devices

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has extended a prohibition on Chinese-owned social media and AI apps on state-issued devices, broadening the existing restriction on TikTok. This new ban incorporates apps such as Lemon8 and RedNote, both owned by ByteDance, with the objective of safeguarding sensitive data from foreign surveillance. Abbott declared, "Texas will not permit the Chinese Communist Party to breach our state's vital infrastructure through data-collection AI and social media platforms." Importantly, the ban does not impact personal devices, permitting Texas residents to utilize these apps while advising vigilance regarding security vulnerabilities.