U.S. Senator Cornyn discusses the growth of the Texas technology industry and the impact of the CHIPS Act

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said the state's tech industry has seen significant growth in recent years, due in part to the migration of companies and workers from California.

In an interview with Tech This Out, Cornyn attributed the growth to Texas' business-friendly policies and lower cost of living compared to California. He also highlighted Army Futures Command's move to Austin, which aims to promote collaboration between the military and technology community.

Cornyn, co-author of the CHIPS Act, said the legislation was motivated by national security concerns. He noted that during the COVID-19 pandemic, essential goods such as personal protective equipment have been manufactured primarily in China, underscoring the need for secure domestic supply chains.

The senator said the CHIPS Act will help ensure a stable supply of advanced semiconductors used in everything from cell phones to military aircraft. As an example of the legislation's economic impact, he pointed to Samsung's recent $40 billion investment in a chip manufacturing plant in Central Texas.

Cornyn said the CHIPS Act will also benefit technology startups by giving them access to essential components. But he acknowledged that the industry's growth has put a strain on the workforce, forcing universities and community colleges to train more workers to meet demand.

He also raised concerns about the data security risks posed by TikTok, the popular social media app owned by Chinese company ByteDance.

Cornyn noted that Chinese law requires ByteDance to share its data and algorithms with the Chinese Communist Party, which he said “doesn’t exactly have our interests at heart.” He noted that TikTok collects extensive information about its users, including their location, contacts and message history.

The senator also mentioned the app's potential for spreading disinformation and pointed to Hamas's alleged favoritism toward Israel in posts about the Middle East conflict. He stressed that many of TikTok's 170 million American users may not be aware of these issues.