# **DeepSeek Ban: New Legislation to Prohibit AI Application on Government Devices**
## **Introduction**
The swift progress in the realm of artificial intelligence (AI) has resulted in the creation of influential AI applications such as DeepSeek AI. However, apprehensions regarding data privacy, national security, and external influence have driven US legislators to act. A new bipartisan initiative, the **”No DeepSeek on Government Devices Act,”** has been proposed to forbid the usage of DeepSeek AI on devices issued by the government. This initiative comes in response to mounting worries that the AI application, created in China, may present a considerable security threat to the United States.
## **What is DeepSeek AI?**
DeepSeek AI is a generative AI chatbot that has gained traction due to its sophisticated features, competing with top AI models like OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Originating in China, DeepSeek has been acclaimed for its novel approach to AI-enhanced conversations and data handling. Nonetheless, its connections to Chinese technology companies and possible data-sharing practices have raised alarms among security professionals and lawmakers.
## **Why is DeepSeek AI Being Banned?**
### **1. Data Privacy and Security Concerns**
Security analysts have revealed that DeepSeek AI might be relaying user information to servers located in China. According to **NowSecure**, the AI application transmits unencrypted data from both iPhone and Android devices to ByteDance servers in China. ByteDance is the parent organization of TikTok, which has already come under fire for data privacy issues.
Moreover, investigators from **Feroot Security** discovered that DeepSeek AI may be transferring user login details to **China Mobile**, the largest telecom operator in China. This is especially alarming since China Mobile has been prohibited from conducting business in the US due to alleged links to the Chinese government and military.
### **2. Risks of Misinformation and Manipulation**
Legislators have likened DeepSeek AI to **”TikTok on steroids,”** proposing that it could be utilized to disseminate misinformation or sway public perception. With the Chinese government’s stringent oversight of online content, there are fears that DeepSeek AI could be engineered to influence users with biased or inaccurate information.
### **3. National Security Threats**
The US government has consistently been cautious of foreign technology that could jeopardize national security. The capacity of DeepSeek AI to gather and analyze vast amounts of user data raises alarms about espionage and cyber threats. If government workers were to utilize DeepSeek AI on official devices, sensitive information could potentially be accessed by foreign entities.
## **Legislative Action: The “No DeepSeek on Government Devices Act”**
In response to these issues, **Representatives Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Darin LaHood (R-IL)** put forth the **”No DeepSeek on Government Devices Act.”** This bipartisan legislation seeks to ban the deployment of DeepSeek AI on all government-issued devices to avert potential security breaches.
### **Statements from Lawmakers**
– **Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ):**
*“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. Now, we have deeply disturbing evidence that they are using DeepSeek to steal the sensitive data of US citizens. This is a five-alarm national security fire.”*
– **Rep. Darin LaHood (R-IL):**
*“The technology race with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is not one the United States can afford to lose. DeepSeek’s generative AI program acquires the data of US users and stores the information for unidentified use by the CCP. Under no circumstances can we allow a CCP company to obtain sensitive government or personal data.”*
### **Senate Involvement**
Senator **John Curtis (R-UT)** echoed these worries during the confirmation hearing of **Howard Lutnick**, Trump’s nominee for Commerce Secretary. Curtis referred to DeepSeek as *“TikTok on steroids,”* stressing the potential hazards of permitting the AI application to operate unrestricted in the US.
## **International Response to DeepSeek AI**
The US is not the only nation taking measures against DeepSeek AI. Other countries, including **Italy**, have already started to impose restrictions on the AI application due to privacy apprehensions. The **US Navy** was among the first to issue a caution, advising personnel against installing DeepSeek AI on their mobile devices.
## **What This Means for AI Regulation**
The DeepSeek prohibition highlights the escalating conflict between technological advancement and national security. As AI continues to mature, governments across the globe are facing challenges on how to regulate foreign-developed AI tools while promoting innovation. This case establishes a benchmark for how the US and other countries may manage AI applications developed in regions with differing data privacy standards.
## **Conclusion**
The suggested ban on DeepSeek AI emphasizes the US government’s dedication to safeguarding national security and user data privacy. While AI technology brings several advantages,
