Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has taken action to block access to Chinese-based platforms DeepSeek, RedNote, and Lemon8 on devices within the executive branch. This decision is part of a broader strategy to protect state interests and security from potential risks associated with the Chinese Communist Party.
“My administration is taking the appropriate steps to ensure Arkansans are protected from the Chinese Communist Party,” said Governor Sanders. “China is only looking to advance their country’s interest by accessing highly sensitive information and that will not be tolerated in Arkansas state government.”
The move is a continuation of measures initiated earlier in the year, such as the China Legislative Defense Package, which aimed to limit Chinese influence by divesting state resources from China and restricting land purchases around critical infrastructure by companies linked to the Chinese government.
The state has implemented network blocks on these applications due to concerns over data privacy and the potential threat to critical infrastructure. Chief Information Officer Gary Vance highlighted the risk of unauthorized access and espionage that these platforms could pose, reinforcing the state’s commitment to safeguarding sensitive information from foreign entities.
“The Arkansas state cyber office has initiated network blocks on social media services that include DeepSeek, RedNote and Lemon8. These applications developed by Chinese companies have raised concerns about data privacy and the risk of unauthorized access to critical infrastructure,” said Chief Information Officer Gary Vance. “The primary objective in blocking access to these applications is to protect critical infrastructure and sensitive information from potential espionage or unauthorized data access by foreign entities, particularly the Chinese Communist Party.”
