The United States may soon follow Australia in banning China’s DeepSeek artificial intelligence from government devices, citing potential national security risks.
U.S. Representatives Josh Gottheimer and Darin LaHood have introduced a bipartisan bill proposing the ban, warning state leaders of the AI model’s potential threats to sensitive government data, cybersecurity, and Americans’ privacy. In a letter addressed to 47 U.S. governors and the mayor of Washington, the lawmakers underscored growing concerns about DeepSeek’s connections to the Chinese government.
China has denied any wrongdoing, but security experts point to troubling reports linking DeepSeek to mass surveillance, cyber censorship, and intelligence gathering. The AI model has reportedly been integrated into Chinese surveillance companies such as TopSec, QAX, and NetEase, all of which provide services to the Chinese government. These firms have openly acknowledged that DeepSeek enhances their ability to conduct biometric data collection, face recognition, and large-scale surveillance under programs like Skynet and Xueliang, which monitor public activities in China.
Adding to security concerns, a Canadian cybersecurity firm discovered a hidden code within DeepSeek’s login processes, allegedly transmitting user data to China Mobile, a state-owned telecom company previously banned in the U.S. due to national security concerns.
Meanwhile, China-based actors have been leveraging DeepSeek and ChatGPT for cyber operations against the U.S. According to OpenAI, malicious actors have used these AI models for phishing attacks, disinformation campaigns, and intelligence gathering on Chinese dissidents and global protests. A network of AI-powered accounts linked to China was also found spreading anti-U.S. narratives in Latin America and Spain, producing both short social media comments and long-form articles critical of American policies.
With mounting evidence of DeepSeek’s potential risks, the proposed ban is gaining traction in Washington. If passed, the U.S. will take a significant step in limiting Chinese AI influence on government infrastructure.
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