U.S. bans China's DeepSeek on government devices

U.S. Commerce Department bureaus have recently banned the Chinese artificial intelligence model called DeepSeek on government devices. This decision comes after rising concerns among U.S. officials and Congress about the potential risks DeepSeek poses to data privacy and sensitive government information. Staff members received an email warning them against accessing any applications or websites related to DeepSeek on their government-furnished equipment. The Commerce Department has not commented on the ban, and it is unclear how widely it applies across the U.S. government. DeepSeek's low-cost AI models led to a significant decline in global equity markets earlier this year. Investors are anxious about the implications for America's leadership in AI technology. Lawmakers believe that using DeepSeek could inadvertently share confidential information with the Chinese Communist Party, which they consider a foreign adversary. In February, Representatives Josh Gottheimer and Darin LaHood introduced legislation aimed at banning DeepSeek on government devices. They also reached out to U.S. governors to encourage similar bans at the state level. Several states, including Virginia, Texas, and New York, have already taken measures to restrict the use of DeepSeek in government operations. A group of 21 state attorneys general is also pushing Congress to pass a national ban.