Texas Governor Greg Abbott just made a big move against several popular Chinese companies. On Monday, he announced that state employees can no longer use products from brands like Shein, Temu, and Alibaba on any government devices.
The ban covers more than just shopping apps. It also hits TP-Link, which makes common internet routers, and the massive battery manufacturer CATL. Even drones from Autel and artificial intelligence software from iFlyTek are now off-limits for state staff. According to a statement from the Governor’s office, the state made this decision to protect the “privacy of Texans” from the Chinese government.
Abbott believes these companies pose a significant security risk. He argues that the Chinese government could use this hardware and software to spy on Texas officials or steal sensitive data. By blocking these brands from state-owned phones, laptops, and networks, he hopes to close a potential backdoor for foreign interference.
This crackdown comes at an interesting time for American politics. While Abbott is a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump, the White House has recently tried to ease tensions with Beijing. In October, the two countries reached a bit of a “truce” in their long-running technology and trade war. Abbott, however, clearly feels that Texas cannot wait for Washington to act and must take its own precautions.
The new rules are quite broad. They don’t just stop people from browsing shopping sites on their lunch break; they block “physical hardware, artificial intelligence, and software” entirely. This means state agencies will have to audit their equipment to ensure no banned components are hidden in their systems.
Texas now joins a growing list of states that are worried about the influence of Chinese-owned tech on American infrastructure. For government workers in the Lone Star State, the message is clear: if the company has ties to the Chinese government, keep its tech off the state’s network.
