U.S. lawmakers propose ban on DeepSeek AI for government devices

The bipartisan push for a ban

Bipartisan U.S. lawmakers have introduced a bill to prohibit the use of DeepSeek, a Chinese artificial intelligence chatbot, on government-owned devices. The legislation was put forward by Representative Darin LaHood of Illinois and Representative Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey. Both lawmakers cited significant national security concerns as the primary reason for the proposed ban.

Representative LaHood emphasized that the competition for technology with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is a high-stakes race that the United States cannot afford to lose. He warned that DeepSeek's generative AI program has the capability to acquire data from U.S. users. He further claimed that this information could be stored for use by Chinese authorities without clear identification of the purpose.

Representative Gottheimer echoed these concerns by stating that the government cannot allow a CCP company to access sensitive personal or government data. He specifically linked the risk to an analysis suggesting that the app intentionally hides code. This code could potentially transmit user login information to China Mobile, a major Chinese telecommunications company.

Security claims and technical risks

The push for the ban is supported by security experts who highlight specific technical vulnerabilities in the DeepSeek app. Ivan Tsarynny, the CEO of Feroot Security, told The Journal that personal information is being sent to China. He stated that the DeepSeek tool is collecting everything that American users connect to it.

Tsarynny specifically pointed to hidden code within the application as the mechanism for these data transfers. He noted that there is no denial regarding the fact that information is being sent to Chinese entities. This technical finding serves as a core piece of evidence for lawmakers who fear the infiltration of government devices by foreign actors.

While supporters of the app point to its open-source code and its growing popularity, the bill remains focused on the risks posed by the parent company. The legislation singles out DeepSeek and any other AI applications developed by High-Flyer, the hedge fund that owns the software. The goal is to prevent any data leakage from official government electronics to the parent organization.

International restrictions on DeepSeek

The United States is not the only country taking action against the use of DeepSeek in official capacities. Australia has already moved to ban the AI from its government systems and devices. Similarly, Taiwan announced that it would prohibit its government departments from using the software.

South Korea has also taken steps to limit access to the app by temporarily blocking its use by employees in its industry ministry. These actions reflect a broader global trend of caution regarding Chinese-developed AI tools. Italy has also been reported to have issued warnings or placed restrictions on the software.

The U.S. proposal is being compared to previous restrictions placed on TikTok. News outlets have noted that the policy framework for DeepSeek is similar to the rules already in place for TikTok. This suggests that the U.S. government is applying a consistent strategy to manage risks associated with Chinese technology platforms.

Official responses and next steps

The Chinese Foreign Ministry has officially opposed the move, rejecting the premise of the U.S. bill. Spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated in Beijing that the Chinese government does not require companies to collect or store data in violation of the law. He asserted that the Chinese government legally protects data privacy and security.

If the bill is approved, federal agencies will have a 60-day window to develop specific rules and guidelines. These guidelines will outline how to remove DeepSeek and any other software developed by High-Flyer from official electronics. The move aims to ensure that government officials do not jeopardize national security by using unauthorized tools.

The bill does include specific exceptions for certain types of use. Federal employers will still be allowed to study DeepSeek for research purposes or for national security reasons. This allows for the continued analysis of the technology while preventing its standard use on government-owned devices. A representative for DeepSeek has not yet provided a comment on the proposed legislation.