They want it gone from government devices.
A bipartisan group of U.S. congressmen is working to introduce a bill that would prohibit the use of China’s DeepSeek AI on government-issued devices. Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) and Darin LaHood (R-Ill.), both members of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, aim to prevent the sharing of sensitive data with DeepSeek, which could be stored on servers in China and potentially accessed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The bill, called the “No DeepSeek on Government Devices Act,” is set to be introduced on February 6. Gottheimer and LaHood argue that the CCP could exploit this data for espionage, stealing American business contracts, financial records, and more.
The concerns surrounding DeepSeek stem from its potential use of personal and government data. The app, which was launched in January, is managed by Hangzhou DeepSeek Artificial Intelligence and Beijing DeepSeek Artificial Intelligence, both of which are based in China. This connection raises alarms about DeepSeek’s adherence to Chinese laws that require companies to cooperate with the Chinese government, including sharing data for intelligence purposes. This has sparked concerns over the app’s role in data harvesting and its ability to compromise national security, especially given China’s tight control over tech companies.
Other states and countries have already taken action to limit the use of DeepSeek. Texas, for example, has already banned the app on government devices, and countries like Taiwan, Italy, and Australia have followed suit. These actions highlight growing concerns over the risk of allowing CCP-affiliated companies to have access to sensitive government and personal information. Gottheimer and LaHood’s bill is part of a broader effort to prevent China from infiltrating U.S. infrastructure through AI and other technologies.
The bill’s introduction comes amid growing concerns over Chinese influence through technology. Other U.S. lawmakers, like Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), have also proposed legislation to halt U.S.-China AI cooperation altogether, seeking to prevent the import or export of AI products between the two nations. Gottheimer and LaHood’s bill focuses specifically on preventing DeepSeek from being used on government devices, emphasizing the need to protect American citizens and officials from foreign influence.
DeepSeek’s AI system has raised additional concerns due to its data collection practices and potential links to CCP-controlled companies. Critics fear that the AI could gather and store data for future use by the CCP, undermining privacy and national security. Gottheimer and LaHood’s proposed bill aims to block any further exposure to these risks by barring DeepSeek’s use in government settings, ensuring that sensitive information is not compromised.
