U.S. Representatives Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) and Darin LaHood (R-Ill.) introduced legislation Thursday to prohibit federal employees from using Chinese AI app DeepSeek on government devices, citing national security concerns.
The "No DeepSeek on Government Devices Act" aims to prevent potential surveillance and data collection by the Chinese government through the artificial intelligence application. The move follows recent findings that DeepSeek contains code that could transmit user login information to China Telecom, a state-owned company banned from U.S. operations.
"The Chinese Communist Party has made it clear that it will exploit any tool at its disposal to undermine our national security, spread harmful disinformation, and collect data on Americans," said Rep. Gottheimer in a statement.
The bill emerges after DeepSeek published an AI model in December that rivaled those from major U.S. tech companies like OpenAI and Google, reportedly at a fraction of the cost. Security researchers discovered concerning elements in DeepSeek's code, prompting investigations into its capabilities. The United States Navy has issued a directive prohibiting its personnel from using DeepSeek, a rapidly growing AI chatbot application, citing security and ethical concerns related to the model's Chinese origins.
Several countries have already taken action against the AI application. Australia, Taiwan, and South Korea have banned DeepSeek from government systems, while Italy blocked access nationwide pending further investigation. In the U.S., states like Texas have independently banned the app from government devices.
The proposed legislation includes exceptions for national security and research purposes. Some lawmakers advocate for broader restrictions, including Senator Josh Hawley's proposal to ban all AI technology imports and exports from China.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry responded by opposing what it called the "politicization of economic and technological issues," stating that China has never required companies to collect data illegally.
The bill reflects growing tensions between the U.S. and China in technological innovation, following similar restrictions on platforms like TikTok and companies like Huawei in government systems.