The Trump administration is contemplating measures to restrict the use of DeepSeek, a Chinese-developed AI chatbot, on U.S. government devices due to national security concerns, according to reports from The Wall Street Journal.
Officials are apprehensive about DeepSeek’s data handling practices, particularly the storage of user information on servers located in China. The administration is considering banning the chatbot from government devices and exploring broader restrictions, such as removing it from app stores and limiting U.S.-based cloud service providers from offering DeepSeek’s AI models to their customers. These discussions are reportedly in preliminary stages.
DeepSeek’s emergence has had significant market implications. In January, the release of its low-cost AI models contributed to a substantial sell-off in global equity markets, as investors expressed concerns about potential threats to existing AI market leaders.
The U.S. has been monitoring DeepSeek since late 2023. Ben Buchanan, a former AI advisor in the Biden administration, noted that while DeepSeek’s advancements are noteworthy, they are comparable to developments by other AI companies like OpenAI and Anthropic. Buchanan emphasized the importance of continued measures, such as chip controls, to maintain a competitive edge.
Other countries have also taken actions regarding DeepSeek. Italy’s data protection authority sought additional information on the chatbot’s data collection practices, leading to its removal from app stores in Italy. South Korea’s Personal Information Protection Commission initiated an inquiry into DeepSeek’s use of personal information. Taiwan advised government departments against using the service to mitigate information security risks.