Texas expands prohibited tech list, citing cyber risks posed by Chinese Communist Party

Texas is tightening its cybersecurity defenses by expanding the list of technologies that state employees are barred from using on government devices, a move aimed at preventing foreign actors from accessing sensitive state data or exploiting government systems.

Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday announced the state is adding new restrictions on certain hardware, software and artificial intelligence tools tied to the People’s Republic of China and the Chinese Communist Party.

The expanded list includes a range of companies involved in AI, surveillance technology, networking equipment, consumer electronics and e-commerce platforms, including Alibaba, Moonshot AI, Xiaomi and TCL. Cybersecurity analysts have said these products pose potential risks because some Chinese companies are legally required under foreign law to share data with their government, raising concerns about espionage and data misuse.

The move comes after Texas established a “hostile foreign adversaries unit” in September to stop the growing influence of the CCP in the United States.

“Rogue actors across the globe who wish harm on Texans should not be allowed to infiltrate our state’s network and devices,” Abbott said in a press release. “Hostile adversaries harvest user data through AI and other applications and hardware to exploit, manipulate, and violate users and put them at extreme risk.”

According to the governor’s office, the update was made in consultation with the Texas Cyber Command, a new cybersecurity organization headquartered at the University of Texas at San Antonio. In a letter last week, Abbott named the center as the lead agency responsible for identifying additional technologies that could pose a threat to Texas information systems.

Texas is not alone in prohibiting technologies from U.S. adversaries.

Florida, Nebraska and South Dakota have restricted the use of some foreign-made apps and devices on their networks, while Indiana and Tennessee have issued guidance limiting procurement of technology linked to foreign adversaries. Many such state actions mirror federal bans.