Lawmakers say they plan to introduce bill to ban DeepSeek from US government devices
Feb 06, 2025 - businessinsider.com
Lawmakers plan to introduce a bill banning Chinese startup DeepSeek's AI chatbot from government devices due to concerns about data privacy and national security. The "No DeepSeek on Government Devices Act," coauthored by GOP Rep. Darin LaHood and Democratic Rep. Josh Gottheimer, aims to prevent the Chinese Communist Party from accessing sensitive US information. This move follows research indicating DeepSeek's potential to transmit user data to a Chinese government-operated telecommunications company. The bill mirrors efforts to restrict TikTok in the US, highlighting ongoing concerns about Chinese technology companies accessing US data.
DeepSeek's AI app, which quickly became popular in the US, has already faced bans in countries like Australia and Italy over similar security concerns. The company's privacy policy, stating that user data is stored in China, has raised alarms about possible misuse by the Chinese government. The legislative push against DeepSeek reflects broader geopolitical tensions and the US government's cautious stance on foreign technology firms handling American data.
Key takeaways:
Lawmakers plan to introduce a bill banning DeepSeek's AI apps from government devices due to concerns about data privacy and security.
The bill aims to prevent China from accessing sensitive US information, similar to efforts to ban TikTok.
DeepSeek's privacy policy and hidden code have raised concerns about data being transmitted to the Chinese government.
Other countries like Australia and Italy have already taken steps to block DeepSeek on national security grounds.
