MONTGOMERY, AL – Governor Kay Ivey has issued a ban on the use of DeepSeek, Manus, and similar artificial intelligence technologies on state devices and networks. In a memo sent Wednesday to all state agency heads, Ivey outlined the cybersecurity action as a measure to protect Alabama’s sensitive data from potential foreign threats.
The decision follows the release of the GenAI Task Force’s final report on Tuesday, which provided recommendations regarding the use of artificial intelligence in the state. The governor’s directive specifically cites concerns over Chinese infiltration activities and broader risks posed by foreign entities.
“When it comes to the threat posed by the Chinese government, Alabama takes no chances,” Governor Ivey stated. “Our citizens’ information must be protected in the strongest possible ways, which is why we are not only putting a ban on these two Chinese AI companies within our state government, but also safeguarding our state’s IT infrastructure from any foreign country of concern. Bad foreign actors have no sanctuary in the state of Alabama.”
The ban aligns with broader national security concerns over foreign technology companies and their potential access to U.S. data. Similar measures have been implemented in other states and at the federal level to mitigate cybersecurity risks.
Further details on the implementation of the ban and any additional security measures were not immediately provided.
