Governor Expands Texas’ Ban on Foreign-Linked Technologies

Texas has expanded its list of prohibited technologies tied to foreign adversaries, targeting products and services affiliated with the Chinese government in an effort to bolster the state’s cybersecurity defenses.

Gov. Greg Abbott announced the update on Monday, citing national security concerns and the need to shield state networks from hostile foreign actors. The updated list bans a broader array of technologies, including artificial intelligence tools, physical hardware and software, that the state has identified as linked to the People’s Republic of China or the Chinese Communist Party.

"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 the announcement. He warned that adversaries are using AI and other technologies to collect and exploit user data, placing users at risk of manipulation and surveillance.

The Texas Cyber Command (TXCC), which the governor created in 2025 as the nation’s largest state-level cybersecurity unit, led the latest threat assessment that informed the new additions. The agency, headed by retired Vice Admiral TJ White, was also formally designated as the lead entity responsible for identifying future technology threats to the state’s systems.

White described the move as a proactive measure to guard against attacks aimed at siphoning sensitive information from state systems.

“The governor and the Legislature gave a clear mission for the Texas Cyber Command — protect Texans from hostile foreign nations and cyber threat actors,” he said. “We are pleased to lead this effort to prevent cyber attacks that have the potential to exfiltrate sensitive information to bad actors across the globe.”

The updated list includes a broad array of companies with ties to AI research, surveillance technologies and hardware manufacturing. Among the newly banned entities are AI firms such as SenseTime, Megvii, CloudWalk, Yitu, iFLYTEK, Moonshot AI, MiniMax, Zhipu (Z.ai) and the Beijing Academy of Artificial Intelligence.

The list also includes major technology and hardware manufacturers such as Alibaba, Baidu, Xiaomi, TP-Link, Hisense and TCL, as well as firms specializing in lidar and drone technologies such as RoboSense, Autel and Wuhan Geosun. E-commerce platforms Pinduoduo and Temu, operating under parent company PDD, and fast-fashion retailer Shein were also included, reflecting continued scrutiny of commercial apps that collect large volumes of user data.

By expanding the prohibited technologies list, the governor’s office aims to limit the risk of foreign surveillance and data exploitation across all state-managed devices and networks. The directive applies to state employees and agencies, which are expected to ensure that banned technologies are not used on state systems or infrastructure.

The Texas Department of Information Resources and the Department of Public Safety were copied on the directive and will coordinate with TXCC to implement and monitor compliance going forward.