AUSTIN, Texas, Jan 27, 2026, 09:23 CST
- Texas added 26 China-linked firms to its prohibited technologies list for state employees and devices.
- The expanded ban covers hardware, software and artificial intelligence tools, including Alibaba, Temu-owner PDD and Shein.
- Officials said the Texas Cyber Command led a threat assessment behind the update.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott expanded the state’s prohibited technologies list — a blacklist for what can be used on government devices and networks — adding 26 companies including Alibaba, Temu-owner PDD, Shein and router maker TP-Link, his office said. The update also targets products tied to artificial intelligence, or AI, and other software. (Texas)
The move lands as U.S. officials and states keep tightening controls on China-linked technology over data security concerns. Abbott said Texas was acting to protect the “privacy of Texans” from the Chinese government, Reuters reported. (Reuters)
Fox Business said the update spans 26 companies and entities and reaches beyond shopping apps to Chinese electronics brands used by U.S. consumers, including Hisense, alongside Alibaba and Temu’s parent. (Fox Business)
“Rogue actors across the globe who wish harm on Texans should not be allowed to infiltrate our state’s network and devices,” Abbott said.
He said hostile actors can use AI and other apps and hardware to harvest user data, and framed the expansion as a step to shield Texans from the People’s Republic of China and the Chinese Communist Party.
The update was developed with Texas Cyber Command Chief Vice Admiral T.J. White, a retired U.S. Navy officer. White said the mission was to “protect Texans from hostile foreign nations and cyber threat actors.”
The additions range from AI groups such as SenseTime, Megvii and CloudWalk to tech firms Baidu and Xiaomi, battery maker CATL, drone maker Autel and AI company iFlyTek. It also includes electronics makers TCL and Uniview, and security screening equipment maker NucTech.
Companies on the list did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Texas first moved in 2022 to bar TikTok and other “covered applications” on state devices and networks, then widened restrictions in 2025 to China-linked AI and social media apps, according to the Texas Department of Information Resources. DIR guidance allows exceptions for law enforcement and other limited uses, but requires sign-off by agency heads. (Texas)
Other states have pursued similar restrictions on foreign-made apps and devices, including Florida, Nebraska and South Dakota, while some steps track federal bans, StateScoop reported. It also cited guidance in states such as Indiana and Tennessee aimed at limiting procurement tied to foreign adversaries. (StateScoop)
But enforcement could get messy. The list includes consumer routers, TVs and other gear that can already sit deep inside offices, and the rules leave room for narrowly defined exceptions.
Abbott also named the Texas Cyber Command as the lead agency for identifying additional technologies that pose risks to state systems, and his office said the latest additions followed a Cyber Command threat assessment.
