US Congress bans federal staff from using Chinese AI chatbot DeepSeek
The US Congress banned federal employees from using the Chinese AI chatbot DeepSeek on official devices, citing security risks including potential malware distribution and sensitive information leakage. The application remains under review by the administration.
What happened
The US Congress prohibited federal staff from using the Chinese AI chatbot DeepSeek on official devices. According to a message from the House of Representatives Chief Administrative Officer sent to congressional offices, DeepSeek is under review by the administration and currently has no authorization for official use.
The House implemented security measures to restrict DeepSeek functionality on all House-issued devices. Staff are forbidden from installing DeepSeek on any official phones, computers, or tablets.
Reported impact
Congressional offices cited security concerns, stating that 'hackers are already using DeepSeek to deliver malicious software and infect devices.' The ban was motivated by fears that use of the service could lead to leaks of sensitive information.
Index analysis
The restriction reflects broader US strategy to limit the influence of Chinese technology companies on American infrastructure and protect national security. The Pentagon also began blocking DeepSeek when department staff actively started using the Chinese AI assistant.
Governance controls
The House of Representatives implemented security measures to restrict DeepSeek's functionality on all House-issued devices and explicitly prohibited staff from installing the application on official devices.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.