TEXAS has become the first US state to ban the TikTok alternative RedNote and the chatbot DeepSeek over fears Americans’ data could end up in the hands of Chinese Communist Party officials. Governor Greg Abbott issued the order after the ChatGPT alternative rocketed to the top of the Apple Store. Now the apps have been banned on government-issued devices. “Texas will not allow the Chinese Communist Party to infiltrate our state’s critical infrastructure through data-harvesting AI and social media apps,” Abbott warned.

“Texas will continue to protect and defend our state from hostile foreign actors.”. Chinese companies must share data with the government, which has increased security fears. DeepSeek responds to prompts like ChatGPT, but the app refuses to answer political questions about China's president Xi Jinping. The AI chatbot also skirts around questions like the Tiananmen Square massacre. "Sorry I'm not sure how to approach this type of question yet," the app reportedly tells users.

"Let's chat about math, coding and logic problem instead.". Cybersecurity experts at Kela warned the app's model is "highly vulnerable," as reported by Forbes. They have alluded to how the app could be used for attacks on America's enemies. And, experts at Enkrpyt AI warned that the DeepSeek app is 11 times more likely than the program OpenAI to produce harmful content, as reported by EuroNews. The app has left the tech world reeling as it rocketed to the top of the Apple Store in the US, UK and China.

But, cybersecurity experts have warned of the potential threats that DeepSeek may pose. RedNote surged in popularity after TikTok temporarily went dark in the US. TikTok went dark on the evening of January 18 after the Supreme Court upheld a law brought in by Congress. The legislation gave app bosses an ultimatum, forcing them to sell the platform to an American buyer or risk punishment. TikTok went down across the US before its services were gradually restored just hours before Trump's inauguration.

TikTokers that tried to access the social media app, which has around 170 million users across the US, were met with a pop-up forcing them to close the platform. The app was down for about 12 hours before chiefs started to restore platforms. Trump signed an executive order last week that delays any ban by 75 days. Trump wants an American company to hold a 50% stake in the platform. And, he appears to have downplayed security fears that are held by some Republican lawmakers.

Republican lawmakers Michael McCaul and Josh Hawley have echoed concerns about TikTok. McCaul branded TikTok a spy balloon in American cell phones. On January 17, 2025, the Supreme Court upheld a congressional bill banning TikTok in the United States. The ban went into force on January 19 and users received a message that the app was no longer available. But, bosses urged fans to stay tuned. Joe Biden refused to take any action when it came to enforcing the ban before leaving office on January 20.

He said that the issue will be for the incoming administration. President Donald Trump has vowed to save the app. Trump signed an executive order delaying any ban for 75 days. He wants an American company to hold a 50% share in the social media giant. Abbott has not just blocked the two apps as he's also outlawed Lemon8. Lemon8, which has similarities with Instagram, is owned by TikTok's parent company, ByteDance.

The platform has been likened to an app that contains features of TikTok, Instagram and Pinterest. Social media users can upload images and share and edit videos. Lemon8 hit American app stores in 2023 - three years after the platform was launched in Asia. More to follow... For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos.