In a bipartisan effort, the US House representatives Josh Gottheimer and Darin LaHood have introduced the No DeepSeek on Government Devices Act, aiming to ban the Chinese AI app DeepSeek from federal systems due to national security concerns.
The lawmakers argue that the Chinese Communist Party could exploit the app for surveillance, misinformation, and data collection on Americans.
The Chinese Communist Party has made it clear that it will use any tool to undermine national security, spread disinformation, and collect data," said Gottheimer, emphasizing the risks of allowing the app on government devices.
DeepSeek, developed by Chinese firm High-Flyer, has gained attention for producing an AI model comparable to OpenAI, Meta, and Alphabet—but at a fraction of the cost.
Its rapid growth has alarmed US policymakers and tech leaders, prompting discussions on restricting Chinese AI advancements.
The proposed ban aligns with broader US-China tech tensions. Washington has already restricted Huawei, imposed AI chip export bans, and previously banned TikTok from federal devices.
A separate bill by Senator Josh Hawley seeks to prohibit the import and export of all Chinese AI technology.
DeepSeek is already facing global scrutiny, with Italy, Taiwan, South Korea, and Australia banning or restricting its use in government systems.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott recently banned DeepSeek and RedNote, a Chinese TikTok alternative, from state-issued devices.
While the proposed ban would exempt national security and research purposes, lawmakers stress the need for stronger measures to prevent China from accessing US data and ensure America’s leadership in AI innovation.
DeepSeek Ban Sought by US Lawmakers
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