US lawmakers introduce bill to ban DeepSeek from govt devices

Bill comes after report found AI model contains hidden code capable of transmitting user data to China Mobile

By AFP
February 08, 2025
The DeepSeek logo is seen at the offices of Chinese AI startup DeepSeek in Hangzhou, in Chinas eastern Zhejiang province on February 5, 2025. — AFP
The DeepSeek logo is seen at the offices of Chinese AI startup DeepSeek in Hangzhou, in China's eastern Zhejiang province on February 5, 2025. — AFP

Washington: US lawmakers on Thursday brought forth a bill to ban Chinese artificial intelligence program DeepSeek from being used on government devices over concerns about user data security.

Representative Josh Gottheimer, a New Jersey Democrat, introduced the bill along with Darin LaHood, an Illinois Republican, citing an “alarming threat to US national security” and warning of “direct ties” between DeepSeek and the Chinese government.

The bill comes after a Wednesday report by Feroot Security, a US cybersecurity firm, found that the AI model contains hidden code capable of transmitting user data to China Mobile, a state-owned telecoms firm.