DeepSeek ban on government devices? US lawmakers introduce proposed law

A bipartisan group of US lawmakers has introduced legislation to ban federal employees from using the Chinese artificial intelligence chatbot DeepSeek on government devices, citing national security concerns and the potential for data misuse by Beijing.

Representatives Josh Gottheimer and Darin LaHood announced the proposed "No DeepSeek on Government Devices Act" on Thursday, warning that the chatbot’s connections to China could pose a serious security risk to federal networks.

The bill would require all government agencies to remove DeepSeek, as well as any app developed by its parent company, High Flyer, within 60 days.

“The Chinese Communist Party has made it abundantly clear that it will exploit any tool at its disposal to undermine our national security, spew harmful disinformation, and collect data on Americans,” Gottheimer said in a statement.

Proposed DeepSeek ban follows ban on TikTok

The proposed ban is the latest escalation in the ongoing tech rivalry between the United States and China.

DeepSeek made headlines recently after unveiling an advanced AI model, R1, which rivals leading American AI systems despite being developed under US export restrictions on high-powered AI chips.

DeepSeek’s breakthrough has fuelled concerns in Washington that China’s AI sector is progressing faster than anticipated.

The chatbot's ability to process vast amounts of information efficiently, while requiring fewer computing resources, has led to speculation that Beijing could use similar models to strengthen its influence in global AI research and applications.

Lawmakers have compared the situation to TikTok, the Chinese-owned social media app that has been the subject of US national security debates for years.

Federal and state agencies have already banned TikTok on government devices due to concerns that its parent company, ByteDance, could be forced to share American user data with Chinese authorities.

Now, TikTok faces a looming ban unless ByteDance sells the platform, following a law passed with bipartisan support last year.

Cybersecurity experts warn of data risks due to DeepSeek

Security experts say AI-powered chatbots like DeepSeek pose additional risks because of how they store and process user interactions.

Many AI companies use data from chatbot conversations to improve their models, raising privacy concerns about potential government surveillance.

“Users need to be aware that any data shared with the platform could be subject to government access under China’s cybersecurity laws, which mandate that companies provide access to data upon request by authorities,” NordVPN cybersecurity expert Adrianus Warmenhoven was quoted as saying in a report by CNN.

The United States is not alone in scrutinizing DeepSeek. Australia, Italy, and Taiwan have already taken steps to limit the chatbot’s influence, citing similar security risks.

DeepSeek has not publicly responded to the proposed US ban, but its rapid rise in the AI sector has added to growing fears that China may soon rival Silicon Valley’s dominance in artificial intelligence.

As lawmakers push for tighter controls, the debate over AI and national security is expected to intensify in the months ahead.