Texas Bans Chinese Tech Firms Over Data Security Concerns

According to the Economic Desk of Webangah News Agency, Texas has updated its banned technology list to include major Chinese firms like TCL, Alibaba, and Xiaomi, effective immediately. The move coincides with the impending April 2025 joint investment between China’s TCL and Japan’s Sony, raising concerns about intensified scrutiny on China-linked supply chains.

Governor Abbott stated on Texas’s official website: “State employees and agencies are now completely barred from using technologies tied to the Chinese Communist Party. Hostile actors exploit AI, hardware, and apps to harvest user data for manipulation. Texas won’t tolerate technologies that threaten citizen privacy or state security.”

The expanded prohibition covers AI, consumer electronics, and digital platforms, blacklisting 13 companies including Hisense, Baidu, Temu, and SenseTime. Texas officials warn these technologies may covertly collect sensitive biometric, audio-visual, and geolocation data for potential overseas transfer.

This follows similar data privacy crackdowns against Chinese tech firms in the EU, South Korea, and other US jurisdictions. The Korea Times reports the policy aligns with Washington’s hardening stance on China-related tech risks, with experts warning that data security concerns are reshaping global partnerships and supply chain strategies.