US lawmakers propose ban on DeepSeek on government devices
US lawmakers proposed legislation to ban Chinese AI application DeepSeek from government devices, alleging it poses national security risks through data transmission to Chinese entities. Cybersecurity firm Feroot Security reported finding code enabling personal data transmission to China Mobile, while multiple countries took similar protective measures.
What happened
On February 7, 2025, Democratic Senator Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey and Republican Representative Darin LaHood of Illinois introduced legislation proposing to ban the use of DeepSeek, a Chinese AI application, on US government devices citing cybersecurity concerns. Gottheimer stated that the Chinese company has 'direct relations' with the Chinese government and described it as a concerning threat to US national security.
On February 5, 2025, American cybersecurity firm Feroot Security announced that DeepSeek's AI model contains code lines enabling the transmission of personal data to China Mobile, a Chinese state-owned telecommunications enterprise. Gottheimer claimed the Communist Party of China has made clear it will use any available tool to undermine US national security, spread dangerous misinformation, and collect data on Americans.
Reported impact
Multiple countries have taken measures against the Chinese application citing cybersecurity reasons. South Korea's Ministries of Defense and Commerce blocked DeepSeek access on government computers pending clarifications from the Chinese startup about information handling. Australia banned DeepSeek use on government devices citing an 'unacceptable level of risk' on security matters.
Index analysis
France's Commission Nationale de l'Informatique et des Libertés (CNIL) and Ireland's regulatory authority announced intentions to request information from the Chinese company regarding data protection.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.