Texas Governor Greg Abbott has issued an order banning the controversial AI app DeepSeek and the popular TikTok alternative RedNote from government-issued devices, making Texas the first state to block these Chinese apps. The governor also prohibited Lemon8, another social media app owned by TikTok’s parent company Bytedance. Abbott stated that Texas will not allow the Chinese Communist Party to infiltrate the state’s critical infrastructure through data-harvesting AI and social media apps.
DeepSeek, a growing AI platform, recently caused a $1 trillion dip in tech stocks and raised security concerns similar to those that led to TikTok’s ban. The app reportedly collects and stores US user data in China, raising concerns about data privacy and the potential for sharing information with the Chinese government. Other entities, including the US Navy, have also started blocking the AI chatbot due to security concerns.
RedNote, a popular social media app in China and other East Asian countries, became a lifeboat for TikTok users as the ban loomed. TikTok itself has faced restrictions in the US since President Biden signed an act banning it in December 2022. The app’s future remains uncertain, especially following former President Trump’s intervention granting ByteDance more time to sell the app.
Microsoft is currently seen as a frontrunner to purchase TikTok. The Texas ban on these Chinese apps highlights the ongoing concerns about data privacy and national security in the use of AI and social media platforms.
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