Texas Bans Chinese Tech for Officials

The Texas state government in the United States has decided to ban the use of hardware and software from several companies owned by or connected to China for state employees. This decision was announced by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who described it as a measure to "protect the privacy of the people of Texas." Companies included in this ban are Shein, Alibaba, Temu, TP-Link, CATL, Autel (a drone manufacturer), and iFlyTek (an AI company). The order restricts the use of physical devices, artificial intelligence services, and software applications from these companies on government-owned devices and networks.

This is not limited to just one state but is considered the latest in a series of actions taken by various U.S. states and institutions against technology companies with Chinese ties due to security concerns. Particular focus on data privacy, cybersecurity, and protection of state infrastructure drives such decisions. This move can also be seen as another expression of the long-standing technological and trade rivalry between China and the United States. However, none of the companies involved have yet issued an official response regarding this matter.