Washington, D.C. – DeepSeek AI, a China-linked artificial intelligence chatbot, is facing mounting scrutiny in the U.S., as lawmakers call for a ban on its use in federal government devices. Concerns over potential security risks and ties to previously banned Chinese tech firms have sparked bipartisan efforts to restrict its accessibility in government settings.
According to AP News, U.S. legislators have introduced a proposal that would prohibit the use of DeepSeek AI on federally issued devices, citing fears that the chatbot could collect and transmit sensitive data to foreign entities. The move follows similar actions taken against Chinese-owned applications like TikTok in recent years.
Forbes reported that DeepSeek AI is linked to a firm that had previously been sanctioned by the U.S. government, raising further alarms about its presence in the country’s AI and tech landscape. Lawmakers argue that the use of AI-powered applications from China in government networks poses an unacceptable security risk.
CNN detailed how the bill, if passed, would require all federal agencies to remove DeepSeek AI from their systems and prevent future downloads on government-issued devices. The legislation is expected to gain broad support from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers, given the increasing concerns about foreign technology companies accessing American user data.
The move is part of a broader U.S. effort to curb reliance on Chinese technology, as officials continue to assess whether AI tools developed abroad could be exploited for surveillance or misinformation campaigns. DeepSeek AI has not responded directly to the proposed ban but maintains that its services are strictly focused on AI development and do not pose any security risks.
As the bill progresses through Congress, government agencies may soon be required to remove DeepSeek AI from all federal networks, reinforcing the U.S.’s ongoing tech crackdown on China-linked firms.
