New York — In a move that reflects deepening tensions between the United States and China over artificial intelligence advancements, two U.S. lawmakers are preparing to introduce a bill that would prohibit government employees from using the AI chatbot DeepSeek on official devices. The legislation, spearheaded by Representatives Darin LaHood of Illinois and Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey, seeks to block the use of DeepSeek due to mounting national security concerns and the potential risks posed by foreign-developed AI technologies.
The proposed law, set to be introduced on Friday, would require all federal agencies to identify and eliminate DeepSeek, along with any other software created by its parent company, High Flyer, within 60 days of enactment. This initiative aligns with broader efforts by U.S. authorities to mitigate potential security vulnerabilities stemming from foreign technology firms, particularly those operating under the legal framework of the Chinese government.
DeepSeek has recently made headlines for its technological advancements, most notably the release of its R1 AI model, which rivals top American AI systems despite requiring fewer resources for training and operation. The chatbot’s rapid progress has intensified fears in Washington that China is gaining ground in the AI race, challenging U.S. dominance in the sector. Lawmakers worry that if left unchecked, Chinese AI firms could surpass their American counterparts, raising strategic and economic concerns.
The call to ban DeepSeek follows similar policy decisions made by allied nations, including Australia, Italy, and Taiwan, all of which have taken steps to regulate or ban Chinese-developed AI tools from their governmental systems. The primary fear driving these bans is the risk of foreign surveillance, as China’s cybersecurity laws grant authorities broad powers to compel companies to share user data, raising alarms over potential espionage and data breaches.
AI security analysts warn that applications like DeepSeek pose a unique risk due to the nature of AI training models, which rely on user inputs to improve their performance. Data submitted to these chatbots could potentially be accessed and analyzed by third parties, including foreign intelligence agencies. “Users must be mindful that any data shared with the platform could become subject to government access under China’s cybersecurity laws,” cybersecurity expert Adrianus Warmenhoven stated.
DeepSeek has not provided a response to inquiries regarding the proposed legislation. However, the situation bears similarities to past scrutiny faced by TikTok, the popular short-video platform owned by Chinese tech giant ByteDance. U.S. lawmakers have long expressed concerns that TikTok could be leveraged by the CCP to monitor American users, a suspicion that ultimately led to a federal ban on the app in government devices.
ByteDance now faces a looming deadline to sell TikTok or risk an outright ban in the United States, following bipartisan legislation that has been reinforced by both Congress and the White House. Representative Gottheimer emphasized that the U.S. must remain vigilant against foreign digital threats, stating, “We cannot afford to let history repeat itself. The CCP has shown time and again that it will use technology as a tool to advance its agenda. We must take decisive action to protect our government’s digital infrastructure.”
The introduction of the DeepSeek ban represents the latest chapter in an ongoing struggle to secure U.S. digital systems against foreign influence. As AI technology continues to evolve, the debate over security, sovereignty, and innovation is likely to shape future legislative battles.
