U.S. lawmakers seek to ban DeepSeek AI from government devices

A new bipartisan effort in Congress aims to prohibit government employees from using DeepSeek, a Chinese artificial intelligence chatbot, on official devices. The proposed legislation, spearheaded by Representatives Darin LaHood (R-IL) and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), reflects growing concerns over national security and China’s increasing presence in AI technology.

The move comes in response to DeepSeek’s recent release of its R1 model, a powerful AI system that rivals top American models while being more cost-efficient and less energy-intensive. This development has sent shockwaves through Silicon Valley and Wall Street, as DeepSeek’s rapid advancement suggests that China could be gaining a competitive edge in AI, despite U.S. export restrictions on high-performance AI chips.

If enacted, the bill would mandate that government agencies establish guidelines within 60 days for removing DeepSeek and any other applications developed by its parent company, High Flyer, from official devices. The proposal aligns with similar measures adopted by Australia, Italy, and Taiwan, all of which have expressed concerns over the security risks associated with foreign AI technology.

The proposed legislation draws parallels to previous efforts to restrict access to TikTok in the United States. Federal and state agencies began banning TikTok from official devices in 2022 due to fears that its China-based parent company, ByteDance, could be compelled to share sensitive user data with the Chinese government. In 2024, Congress passed a law giving ByteDance fewer than 60 days to sell TikTok or face a nationwide ban, a decision that was reinforced by President Donald Trump earlier this year.

Representative Gottheimer emphasized the potential risks of allowing DeepSeek on government devices, stating, “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. We simply can’t risk the CCP infiltrating the devices of our government officials and jeopardizing our national security … We’ve seen China’s playbook before with TikTok, and we cannot allow it to happen again.”

Security experts echo these concerns, warning that DeepSeek could pose an even greater threat than TikTok. AI companies often use user interactions to train and refine their models, raising privacy concerns. Adrianus Warmenhoven, a cybersecurity expert at NordVPN, cautioned that DeepSeek’s Chinese ownership makes it particularly risky. “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,” he stated.

DeepSeek has yet to respond to these allegations or the proposed legislation.

As the battle for AI supremacy between the U.S. and China intensifies, American lawmakers continue to scrutinize Chinese technology firms. The fate of DeepSeek in the U.S. government’s digital ecosystem now depends on whether this bill gains traction in Congress, potentially setting another precedent in the ongoing struggle over tech security and national interests.