Texas Governor Bans DeepSeek and RedNote on Government Devices

On January 31, 2025, Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott announced a ban on the use of the chatbot DeepSeek, which is owned by the Chinese AI company DeepSeek, for all government-issued devices. This makes Texas the first state to implement such a restriction on this popular AI platform. DeepSeek has rapidly gained popularity among American users, causing significant reactions within the AI community.

Additionally, Governor Abbott also placed restrictions on two widely used Chinese social media applications, Xiaohongshu, commonly referred to as RedNote, and Lemon8, prohibiting them from being used on state-issued devices. These measures are part of Abbott's efforts to protect Texas from potential security threats, particularly from foreign entities.

Governor's Statement on Security Measures

In his statement, Abbott emphasized that, "Texas will not allow the Chinese Communist Party to infiltrate our state’s critical infrastructure through data-harvesting AI and social media apps." He reiterated the state’s commitment to safeguarding Texas citizens from hostile foreign actors.

The governor's office has not provided additional comments regarding this ban.

DeepSeek and RedNote Overview

DeepSeek has drawn attention recently for its ability to compete with established players in the AI market, such as OpenAI. Its emergence has raised eyebrows in financial sectors, reflecting the shifting landscape of artificial intelligence applications.

Alongside DeepSeek, Xiaohongshu (RedNote) has also seen an uptick in users, especially during the period when TikTok faced its own controversies and temporary bans. Xiaohongshu, a social media platform popular in China and other Asian nations, boasts around 300 million active users, with a notable portion seeking out alternatives to TikTok.

The Future of Social Media Apps

Lemon8, owned by ByteDance—the same parent company behind TikTok—has also gained traction as users searched for social platforms in the wake of TikTok's restrictions. Texas is among several states that have already banned TikTok for government use while the app's fate in the U.S. remains uncertain.

In conclusion, these bans reflect a growing trend among state and federal governments to closely monitor and regulate foreign technology companies, particularly those associated with perceived national security risks. The situation continues to develop as states respond to the increasing influence of foreign technology on their infrastructures.

Texas, Governor, DeepSeek