US lawmakers have introduced a bill to ban the Chinese artificial intelligence program, DeepSeek, from being used on government devices, citing national security threats and data privacy concerns.
The bill, introduced on Thursday by Representative Josh Gottheimer, a Democrat from New Jersey, and Representative Darin LaHood, a Republican from Illinois, comes amid growing fears about the potential misuse of user data. The lawmakers highlighted what they described as an “alarming threat to US national security” and alleged “direct ties” between DeepSeek and the Chinese government.
A recent report by US cybersecurity firm Feroot Security claims that DeepSeek’s AI model contains hidden code capable of transmitting user data to China Mobile, a state-owned telecommunications company. This revelation has sparked widespread concern about the program’s potential for espionage and data breaches.
“The Chinese Communist Party has made it abundantly clear that it will exploit any tool at its disposal to undermine our national security, spread harmful disinformation, and collect data on Americans,” said Gottheimer in a statement. LaHood added, “Under no circumstances can DeepSeek, a CCP-affiliated company, be allowed to obtain sensitive government or personal data.”
Since its launch in January, DeepSeek has disrupted the global AI industry with its low-cost, high-quality chatbot, challenging the dominance of US-based AI technologies. However, its rapid rise has also attracted scrutiny over data security practices.
In response to these concerns, South Korean ministries and police have already blocked DeepSeek’s access to government computers after the company failed to clarify how it handles user information. Australia has also banned DeepSeek from government devices based on security agency recommendations, while France and Italy have raised similar concerns regarding data privacy.
The proposed US legislation aims to prevent potential risks associated with foreign AI technologies, emphasizing the need to safeguard national security and protect sensitive information from foreign interference.
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