US lawmakers propose bipartisan bill to ban DeepSeek from government devices

Google and Microsoft will debut a new feature that uses AI to write text for users directly in their search engines, expanding the integration of generative AI capabilities into core products.

The core development: House legislators are proposing a bipartisan bill to ban the Chinese AI application DeepSeek from U.S. federal government devices, citing national security concerns.

• Representatives Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) and Darin LaHood (R-Ill.) introduced the “No DeepSeek on Government Devices Act” on Thursday
• The legislation would prohibit federal employees from using DeepSeek on government-owned electronics, with exceptions for national security and research purposes
• The ban would extend to any AI applications developed by DeepSeek’s parent company, High-Flyer

Background and context: DeepSeek’s January announcement of a competitive AI model developed at significantly lower costs than U.S. counterparts has raised concerns among policymakers and tech industry leaders.

• The Chinese company claims to have created an AI model that performs at similar levels to those from OpenAI, Meta, and Alphabet
• This development comes amid escalating U.S.-China technological competition
• The U.S. has already implemented various restrictions on Chinese technology, including export controls on advanced microchips

National security implications: Lawmakers express serious concerns about the potential for Chinese government exploitation of the AI application.

• Representative Gottheimer emphasized the risk of the Chinese Communist Party using the app for surveillance and spreading disinformation
• The legislation aims to prevent potential infiltration of government devices and protect sensitive information
• This move aligns with existing policies restricting Chinese technology in federal systems, such as limitations on Huawei

Broader legislative context: The DeepSeek ban proposal follows similar actions against other Chinese technology platforms.

• Congress previously approved legislation requiring TikTok to divest from its Chinese parent company or face a nationwide ban
• President Biden banned TikTok from federal devices in 2023
• Senator Josh Hawley has proposed more comprehensive legislation to bar all AI technology imports and exports from China

Looking ahead: The push to restrict Chinese AI applications on federal devices reflects growing concerns about technological competition and national security, potentially setting the stage for broader restrictions on Chinese AI technology in the U.S. market. However, the effectiveness of such targeted bans remains to be seen, particularly as AI development becomes increasingly global and interconnected.