News
Abbott Bans Foreign AI Apps
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has issued an executive order banning the use of Chinese artificial intelligence company DeepSeek and social media apps RedNote (also known as Xiaohongshu) and Lemon8 on government-issued devices. This move makes Texas the first state to impose such restrictions on these popular applications.
Background
The ban is an extension of Abbott’s 2022 prohibition on TikTok for government devices[3]. The decision comes amid growing concerns over national security and the potential for foreign surveillance and data gathering through AI and social media platforms.
Banned Applications
- DeepSeek: A Chinese AI chatbot that has recently gained popularity in the U.S. and has demonstrated the ability to compete with industry leader OpenAI.
- RedNote (Xiaohongshu): A social media app with approximately 300 million active users, primarily in China and surrounding countries. It gained traction among American users during TikTok’s brief ban.
- Lemon8: A social media application owned by ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company.
Rationale for the Ban
Governor Abbott stated, “Texas will not allow the Chinese Communist Party to infiltrate our state’s critical infrastructure through data-harvesting AI and social media apps”. The ban aims to protect state agencies and employees responsible for handling critical infrastructure, intellectual property, and personal information from potential espionage operations.
Impact and Reactions
The ban has sent shockwaves through the AI and tech communities, particularly due to DeepSeek’s recent surge in popularity and its potential to compete with established U.S. AI companies. The decision has also raised questions about the future of Chinese-owned apps in the U.S. market and the broader implications for international technology competition.
As of now, ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok and Lemon8, has not responded to requests for comment on the ban. The situation continues to evolve, with potential implications for other states and the federal government’s approach to Chinese-owned technology platforms.
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