US lawmakers seek ban on DeepSeek from government devices

7 Feb-A bipartisan group of US lawmakers has introduced legislation to prohibit the use of the Chinese artificial intelligence app DeepSeek on federal government devices, citing security risks.

Representatives Josh Gottheimer, a Democrat from New Jersey, and Darin LaHood, a Republican from Illinois, introduced the “No DeepSeek on Government Devices Act” on Thursday.

The bill seeks to bar federal employees from using the AI app on government-issued electronics, following concerns that the Chinese government could leverage the technology for surveillance and misinformation. A similar restriction is already in place for the social media platform TikTok.

“The Chinese Communist Party has demonstrated time and again that it will exploit technology to undermine our national security, spread disinformation, and collect data on Americans,” Gottheimer said in a statement. “We cannot allow the CCP to infiltrate our government networks and jeopardize sensitive information.”

The proposal follows DeepSeek’s December launch of an AI model that reportedly rivals those developed by US tech firms like OpenAI, Meta, and Alphabet, but at a significantly lower cost. A January research paper highlighting DeepSeek’s capabilities raised concerns among policymakers and tech leaders.

Security analysts have also flagged potential risks. A report by research firm Feroot, cited by The Associated Press, found that DeepSeek’s software code could transmit user login details to a Chinese state-owned telecom company barred from operating in the US

Gottheimer emphasized the urgency of banning the app. “This was enough of a warning sign to take immediate action,” he told the AP. “Americans need to understand the privacy risks, especially as AI chatbots are used to handle sensitive information, contracts, and proprietary data.” He also urged Congress to further investigate DeepSeek’s surveillance potential.

The US-China rivalry in technology continues to escalate, with Washington imposing restrictions on Chinese firms like Huawei, limiting microchip exports, and pressuring TikTok’s Chinese parent company to divest. In 2023, the Biden administration banned TikTok from federal devices.

“This bipartisan bill is a commonsense step to prevent the app from accessing government networks while closing security loopholes,” LaHood said.

The legislation would apply to DeepSeek and any AI app developed by its parent company, High-Flyer, with exceptions for national security and research.

Several countries have already restricted DeepSeek. Italy blocked access to the app last month, while Taiwan, South Korea, Australia, and Texas have all barred its use on government systems.