Texas Governor Greg Abbott has banned the Chinese AI company DeepSeek and the social media apps Xiaohongshu (RedNote) and Lemon8 from all state-issued devices due to security concerns. This action makes Texas the first state to implement such a ban, following the wider trend of banning TikTok on government devices. Abbott stated that these apps are a threat to the state’s infrastructure, specifically highlighting the potential for data-harvesting by the Chinese Communist Party.
Xiaohongshu, also known as RedNote, had been gaining popularity in the U.S. as a TikTok alternative, especially after the brief ban of TikTok in January.
With over 300 million users globally, the app has become a significant platform in China and abroad. Lemon8, another Chinese app owned by ByteDance, also gained traction around the same time, and the ban targets both due to their connection with data harvesting concerns.
Meanwhile, Italy’s data protection authority has also taken steps against DeepSeek’s AI chatbot, blocking its service and demanding clarification on how the company collects and handles personal data. The Italian authorities raised questions about the legal grounds, data storage locations, and the AI’s training process. Despite DeepSeek’s claim that it does not operate in Italy, the investigation into the company’s data practices continues.
The bans and investigations signal a broader effort by governments to protect citizens’ data from foreign surveillance, particularly from Chinese technology firms. As concerns over digital privacy grow globally, countries are increasingly scrutinizing apps and services that may compromise their citizens’ personal information.
