Lawmakers in Washington have introduced a new bipartisan bill aimed at enhancing national security by banning the artificial intelligence tool, DeepSeek, from federal government devices. The proposal follows concerning revelations that the tool may have ties to a Chinese state-owned telecommunications entity. Representative Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), who has been leading the charge, has called for expedited action on this pressing issue.
Rep. Gottheimer, a member of the House Intelligence Committee, emphasized the urgency of removing DeepSeek from all government technology. His actions are a direct response to in-depth reports highlighting the potential risks associated with the application’s underlying technology, which is suspected of transmitting sensitive user data to overseas servers controlled by the Chinese government.
Introducing the No DeepSeek on Government Devices Act, Rep. Gottheimer seeks to hold federal agencies accountable for eliminating potential security threats posed by the AI tool. As part of the proposed legislation, the Office of Management and Budget would be responsible for formulating a clear set of guidelines to dismantle the use of DeepSeek across government infrastructures within a 60-day timeframe, while maintaining exemptions for law enforcement and national security roles where necessary.
Adding to the momentum, the U.S. House of Representatives’ chief administrative officer recently advised personnel to avoid using the DeepSeek app. This directive underscores growing apprehensions about the tool’s potential to compromise confidential information.
The urgency mounts as parallels are drawn to past legislative actions against similar technology. Rep. Gottheimer was also pivotal in advocating for a previous restriction on the popular TikTok app, which resulted in a temporary blackout for American users in early 2024. This precedent underscores the government’s proactive stance in addressing digital security risks.
Concerns escalated after Ivan Tsarynny, CEO and founder of cybersecurity research firm Feroot, revealed findings implicating DeepSeek in covert data transmission activities. According to Tsarynny, the tool could potentially send user data, encompassing browsing habits and sensitive queries, to servers linked to the Chinese government.
DeepSeek, despite being widely recognized as a Chinese enterprise, is increasingly showing direct transmission paths to servers managed by Chinese governmental agencies, noted Tsarynny. The technology embedded in DeepSeek can track user interactions across various contexts, potentially leading to personal profiling of sensitive nature.
In light of these revelations, the call for prompt action becomes even more critical. DeepSeek, along with its hedge fund investors High-Flyer, has yet to provide any official comment regarding these allegations. The situation underscores the delicate balance between leveraging advanced AI technologies and safeguarding national data security.
As discussions around this issue continue, the proposed legislation could set a precedent for how similar technologies are managed in the future, with a continued focus on protecting national security while fostering technological innovation.