US lawmakers have introduced a bill to ban the Chinese artificial intelligence program DeepSeek from being used on government devices. They cite concerns over national security and data privacy.
Representative Josh Gottheimer, a Democrat from New Jersey, and Representative Darin LaHood, a Republican from Illinois, introduced the bipartisan bill on Thursday.
The US Lawmakers warned of DeepSeek’s alleged ties to the Chinese government, calling it an “alarming threat to US national security.”
A report by US cybersecurity firm Feroot Security, released on Wednesday, claimed that the AI model contains hidden code capable of transmitting user data to China Mobile, a state-owned telecom company.
DeepSeek made headlines in January with the launch of its low-cost, high-quality chatbot, challenging the dominance of US-led AI innovations.
“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,” Gottheimer stated.
LaHood added that DeepSeek is a “CCP-affiliated company” and stressed that it must not be allowed to access sensitive government or personal data.
The US Lawmakers are not alone in taking action against DeepSeek. South Korean ministries and police have blocked the AI system from government computers after the company failed to respond to a data watchdog’s request for transparency.
Australia has also banned DeepSeek from all government devices based on security agency recommendations, while France and Italy have raised concerns over its data practices.
Also Read:
Lagos Taskforce arrests 12 suspected land grabbers in Ikeja
We cannot go back to more deaths – UN chief António Guterres calls for full Gaza ceasefire
We have no power to appoint or remove IGP — PSC
cc: Daily Post Ng
