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. data centers and critical infrastructure, aligning with Paxton's stated support for the DATA Act introduced by Senator Tom Cotton. The second pillar would make data center operators criminally liable if their facilities are used to run AI chatbots that harm children, a significant shift from the current framework where liability primarily rests with software companies. On the state level, Paxton wants to repeal Texas's sales tax exemptions for data centers and backs Governor Greg Abbott's recent push for audits and greater transparency around...