In a significant move to protect data privacy, Texas has enacted the Texas Data Privacy and Security Act (TDPSA), an initiative to combat foreign influence on personal data. This rigorous law, which took effect on July 1, 2024, aims to provide Texans with rights over their personal data, ensuring their privacy is shielded from intrusive corporations. The TDPSA is widely regarded as a major step forward, addressing what many believe is a slow response from Washington on data and privacy protection issues.
Under this new law, Texas is taking an assertive stance against the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which is seen as a significant foreign threat to America. Companies like Temu, a Chinese e-commerce giant, are under scrutiny due to links to the CCP and concerns over potential misuse of data. According to a Department of Homeland Security report, Chinese firms like Temu are required by China’s 2017 National Intelligence Law to share data with the Chinese government. This poses a substantial threat as Temu’s app has penetrated various aspects of American life, from homes to military bases.
In May 2024, data revealed that Temu had around 50 million users in the U.S., highlighting the app’s extensive reach and amplifying concerns over data security. A class-action lawsuit in Illinois has accused Temu of covertly wiretapping communications and embedding malicious software in user devices, raising substantial alarms over its operations.
Governor Greg Abbott has spearheaded efforts to fortify Texas’s defenses against these cyber threats. He introduced a Model Security Plan for Prohibited Technologies, specifically banning applications like TikTok on state devices. There are growing calls for Temu to be added to this list. Furthermore, Texas’s Attorney General Ken Paxton has been proactive, launching a Data Privacy and Security Initiative aimed at curbing foreign data harvesting attempts. Paxton has also urged for a consumer protection investigation into Temu, aiming to restrict its activities if evidence proves it poses a risk to Texans’ data security.
The Texas legislative actions come in tandem with broader national efforts. In an assertive move, the U.S. House of Representatives issued a ban on ByteDance products, including TikTok, from all House-managed devices starting August 15, 2024. This measure is part of a broader federal initiative to combat perceived threats from Chinese technology. GOP House Speaker Mike Johnson remarked, “Communist China is America’s largest geopolitical foe and is using technology to actively undermine America’s economy and security.”
Meanwhile, Texas has made headlines with a monumental $1.4 billion settlement against Meta (formerly Facebook) for unauthorized collection and use of biometric data of millions of Texans. Attorney General Ken Paxton announced the settlement, which will be paid over five years, marking the largest settlement ever secured by a single state for privacy violations. This action against Meta is rooted in Texas’s Capture or Use of Biometric Identifier Act and the Deceptive Trade Practices Act, underscoring Texas’s vigorous enforcement of privacy laws.
Paxton stated, “This historic settlement demonstrates our commitment to standing up to the world’s biggest technology companies and holding them accountable for breaking the law and violating Texans’ privacy rights.” This landmark settlement came in response to Meta’s misuse of biometric data through features like Tag Suggestions which violated state laws by capturing data without user consent.
The implications of these initiatives by Texas officials are far-reaching. Not only do they represent a significant step toward safeguarding personal data within the state, but they also send a strong message to technology companies regarding compliance with stringent privacy regulations. The continuous monitoring and legal actions by Texas serve as a reminder of the state’s dedication to maintaining robust privacy protections in an era of increasing cybersecurity threats.
News Sources
- Texas has the tools to stop Temu, a Chinese app
- TikTok Will Be Deleted From All Phones Managed by the House of Representatives
- Texas Attorney General Paxton Secures Historic $1.4 Billion Settlement with Facebook (Meta) Over Unauthorized Biometric Data Collection
Assisted by GAI and LLM Technologies
Source: HaystackID
