Arkansas – Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced that Arkansas has blocked access to the Chinese-based platforms DeepSeek, RedNote, and Lemon8 on executive branch devices.
Governor Sanders stated that the decision was made to protect Arkansans from potential threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party.
She emphasized that China seeks to advance its own interests by accessing sensitive information, which will not be tolerated within Arkansas state government.
Chief Information Officer Gary Vance confirmed that the Arkansas state cyber office has implemented network blocks on these social media services due to concerns over data privacy and unauthorized access to critical infrastructure.
Vance explained that the move aims to safeguard sensitive information from potential espionage or foreign interference, particularly from the Chinese Communist Party.
This action follows Governor Sanders’ February announcement of the China Legislative Defense Package, which expands restrictions on Chinese Communist Party-linked companies.
The package prevents these companies from leasing property, owning land near critical infrastructure, and shortens the timeline for divestment by banned entities. Additionally, state agencies will be prohibited from using public funds to purchase promotional items made in China.