Paxton Proposes Ban on Chinese Tech in Data Centers, Criminal Liability for Harmful AI

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, unveiled a four-point federal and state legislative platform on August 24, 2026, targeting data center infrastructure and artificial intelligence. The plan proposes banning Chinese-linked technology from U.S. data centers and establishing criminal liability for operators whose facilities power AI chatbots that endanger children. Paxton's announcement comes as data centers have become a central issue in his competitive race against Democratic State Representative James Talarico. The platform's two federal pillars include prohibiting Chinese-linked technology in U.S.