Texas is intensifying its digital defenses against China, and the list of banned technologies just got a whole lot longer.
Governor Greg Abbott has updated the state’s prohibited technologies list, adding dozens of Chinese-affiliated hardware, AI systems, and software products. The January 26, 2026 expansion represents the state’s most aggressive move yet to block what officials describe as potential digital threats from the People’s Republic of China.
“Rogue actors across the globe who wish harm on Texans should not be allowed to infiltrate our state’s network and devices,” Abbott said in announcing the expanded restrictions, which were developed in consultation with Texas Cyber Command (TXCC) Chief Vice Admiral TJ White.
Targeting AI and Hardware
The newly banned technologies include major Chinese AI developers like SenseTime, Megvii, and Baidu, alongside hardware manufacturers such as Xiaomi, TP-Link, and Hisense. Popular shopping platforms Temu and Shein also made the list, reflecting concerns about data collection practices of Chinese-owned consumer apps.
What’s driving this digital cold war? The governor has cited surveillance concerns related to the Chinese Communist Party, framing the bans as necessary security measures rather than economic protectionism.
In a letter to state security officials, Abbott named the Texas Cyber Command as the lead agency for identifying additional threatening technologies. Chief White embraced the mission, stating, “The Governor and the Legislature gave a clear mission for the Texas Cyber Command – protect Texans from hostile foreign nations and cyber threat actors.”
Building on Previous Bans
The latest restrictions extend a pattern that began in December 2022, when Abbott first required state agencies to ban TikTok from government-issued devices. By January 2025, the prohibition had grown to include various AI and social media applications affiliated with China.
Texas isn’t alone in its concerns. Federal agencies have implemented similar restrictions, though Texas now has perhaps the most comprehensive state-level ban in the country.
The full prohibition now covers an extensive array of technologies: WeChat and its payment system, Alipay, CamScanner, Kaspersky security software, WPS Office, and numerous financial apps like Webull and Tiger Broker, among others.
Texas Cyber Command Takes Lead
Behind the expanded list stands the newly formed Texas Cyber Command, established by Governor Abbott last June as what he described as “the largest state-based cybersecurity department in America.”
The TXCC conducted threat assessments that led to the addition of nearly 30 companies to the prohibited list. Many are at the forefront of China’s technological development, particularly in artificial intelligence and data collection.
Critics might question whether such broad bans could hamper innovation or create technological isolation. But for Texas officials, the security calculation appears straightforward: better safe than sorry when it comes to potential foreign surveillance.
As digital borders continue hardening between the U.S. and China, Texas has positioned itself at the vanguard of what increasingly looks like a technological decoupling between the world’s two largest economies.
