West Virginia State Treasurer Larry Pack has announced new restrictions prohibiting the use of Chinese artificial intelligence technology and select foreign-based applications on devices issued by the state’s Treasury Office. The updated policy bans platforms including DeepSeek AI, AliPay, and Kaspersky software from all Treasury-managed devices as part of ongoing efforts to limit exposure to technologies tied to foreign adversaries.
This latest move builds on previous bans, which included restrictions on the use of TikTok and WeChat, both associated with Chinese ownership. The Treasury’s approach aligns with broader national security concerns over potential data harvesting and foreign surveillance threats.
Treasurer Pack stated that the policy change aims to safeguard sensitive information and prevent foreign entities from accessing American financial systems and proprietary data. The decision comes amid ongoing warnings about cybersecurity risks posed by companies with ties to the Chinese government, military, or the Chinese Communist Party. The ban on Chinese-based applications reflects a growing national trend of limiting the use of foreign technologies that could pose security risks to government operations and infrastructure.
This marks the second major initiative Treasurer Pack has taken to reduce West Virginia’s financial ties with foreign adversaries. Earlier this year, the Board of Treasury Investments (BTI) approved a Prohibited Foreign Investments Policy, blocking direct investments in companies linked to the government of China or its military.
Pack has also indicated plans to propose a similar investment policy for the West Virginia Investment Management Board (IMB) later this year. The proposal would prevent state-managed long-term investments and pension funds from supporting Chinese-owned companies or entities associated with the Chinese government. Treasurer Pack has emphasized the importance of reducing dependency on foreign assets that may pose a threat to American interests, advocating instead for redirecting investments back into West Virginia’s economy.
