US lawmakers propose bill to ban China’s DeepSeek on these devices | All about it

A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers has introduced legislation aimed at prohibiting the use of China’s DeepSeek artificial intelligence software on government devices, citing concerns over national security and potential espionage risks.

The bill was introduced by Republican Representative Darin LaHood (Illinois) and Democratic Representative Josh Gottheimer (New Jersey).

It highlights fears that DeepSeek, which has ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), could be used to gather sensitive data on American users, as mentioned in a report by NBC.

Legislation Targets DeepSeek Over Security Concerns

Representative Darin LaHood reflected on the gravity of the issue, stating, “The technology race with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is not one the United States can afford to lose.”

He added that DeepSeek’s generative AI capabilities allow it to collect vast amounts of user data, which could potentially be accessed by Chinese authorities for unidentified purposes.

His concerns were echoed by Representative Josh Gottheimer, who asserted that “under no circumstances can we allow a CCP company to obtain sensitive government or personal data”, as quoted in a report by NBC.

Security Analysis Raises Red Flags

According to an analysis by Ivan Tsarynny, CEO of cybersecurity firm Feroot Security, DeepSeek’s AI-powered chatbot app allegedly contains hidden code.

This could transmit user login information to China Mobile, a state-owned telecommunications giant that has already been banned from operating in the U.S.

Tsarynny, whose findings were published by The Associated Press, described the situation as alarming, stating, “It’s mindboggling that we are unknowingly allowing China to survey Americans, and we’re doing nothing about it.”

He further warned that the circumstances surrounding DeepSeek’s operations appeared too “unusual” to be accidental, adding, “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. In this instance, there’s a lot of smoke.”

DeepSeek’s Rise Sparks U.S. Tech Fears

Founded in 2023, DeepSeek gained significant attention in the U.S. tech industry last month after reports suggested that its AI models were outperforming American counterparts at a fraction of the cost.

This development briefly triggered a dip in U.S. tech stocks, as investors feared that Chinese AI firms could gain a competitive edge over American companies.

However, some industry experts have questioned these claims, pointing out that a full accounting of DeepSeek’s development costs has not been disclosed, leaving uncertainty over whether it truly operates at a lower cost.

FAQs

What is DeepSeek?

DeepSeek is an AI software company based in China.

Which countries ban DeepSeek?

DeepSeek is prohibited on government devices in South Korea, Australia, and Taiwan.