Texas Governor Abbott Expands Prohibited Tech Company List to Include Alibaba and Shein
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott discusses President-elect Trump’s deportation plan, Texas reportedly expanding the Rio Grande buoy border, executive orders to protect against the China threat and job creation.
On Monday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced an expansion of the list of prohibited technologies for state employees and devices. This update includes a variety of Chinese electronics manufacturers, artificial intelligence companies, and popular online shopping platforms, all driven by concerns over data security and foreign interference.
The new restrictions now encompass 26 companies and entities, such as Alibaba, Shein, Hisense, and the e-commerce platform PDD, which operates Temu. Abbott emphasized that this initiative aims to safeguard Texans from foreign adversaries who might seek to harvest data and exploit state systems.
TEXAS THE LATEST STATE WITH A LAW BANNING FOREIGN ADVERSARIES FROM BUYING REAL ESTATE
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott listens to a briefing while preparing for a winter storm at the State Operations Center in Austin on Jan. 22, 2026. (Jay Janner/The Austin American-Statesman via Getty Images / Getty Images)
In a press release, Abbott stated, “Rogue actors across the globe who wish harm on Texans should not be allowed to infiltrate our state’s network and devices.” He further elaborated on the risks posed by hostile adversaries, noting that they can harvest user data through AI and other applications to exploit and manipulate users, putting them at significant risk.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks during a news conference with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins at the Texas Capitol in Austin on Aug. 15, 2025. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via Getty Images / Getty Images)
Texas Cyber Command officials indicated that these additions were made following a threat assessment conducted under the authority granted in Abbott’s Jan. 20 directive. This directive tasked the agency with identifying technologies that pose a risk to sensitive state information.
Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin details the legal grounds of the state’s lawsuit against China-based retailer Temu and former President Trump’s court cases.
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Chief TJ White of Texas Cyber Command stated, “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 expressed confidence in the agency’s efforts to prevent cyber attacks that could compromise sensitive information.
This expansion builds upon earlier restrictions imposed by Abbott, including a December 2022 directive that ordered state agency leaders to ban the use of TikTok on all government-issued devices.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott discusses President-elect Trump’s deportation plan, Texas reportedly expanding the Rio Grande buoy border, executive orders to protect against the China threat and job creation.
On Monday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced an expansion of the list of prohibited technologies for state employees and devices. This update includes a variety of Chinese electronics manufacturers, artificial intelligence companies, and popular online shopping platforms, all driven by concerns over data security and foreign interference.
The new restrictions now encompass 26 companies and entities, such as Alibaba, Shein, Hisense, and the e-commerce platform PDD, which operates Temu. Abbott emphasized that this initiative aims to safeguard Texans from foreign adversaries who might seek to harvest data and exploit state systems.
TEXAS THE LATEST STATE WITH A LAW BANNING FOREIGN ADVERSARIES FROM BUYING REAL ESTATE
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott listens to a briefing while preparing for a winter storm at the State Operations Center in Austin on Jan. 22, 2026. (Jay Janner/The Austin American-Statesman via Getty Images / Getty Images)
In a press release, Abbott stated, “Rogue actors across the globe who wish harm on Texans should not be allowed to infiltrate our state’s network and devices.” He further elaborated on the risks posed by hostile adversaries, noting that they can harvest user data through AI and other applications to exploit and manipulate users, putting them at significant risk.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks during a news conference with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins at the Texas Capitol in Austin on Aug. 15, 2025. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via Getty Images / Getty Images)
Texas Cyber Command officials indicated that these additions were made following a threat assessment conducted under the authority granted in Abbott’s Jan. 20 directive. This directive tasked the agency with identifying technologies that pose a risk to sensitive state information.
Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin details the legal grounds of the state’s lawsuit against China-based retailer Temu and former President Trump’s court cases.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Chief TJ White of Texas Cyber Command stated, “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 expressed confidence in the agency’s efforts to prevent cyber attacks that could compromise sensitive information.
This expansion builds upon earlier restrictions imposed by Abbott, including a December 2022 directive that ordered state agency leaders to ban the use of TikTok on all government-issued devices.
