US banning Chinese AI DeepSeek from government agency IT systems

The US Homeland Security Department has instructed US civilian agencies to remove DeepSeek AI products and third-party services utilizing the Chinese AI model from their IT systems, according to a notice published on Monday. Moreover, the department is prohibiting the acquisition of DeepSeek products and services developed using the DeepSeek model by US civilian government entities.

DHS has identified DeepSeek models as harboring "multiple threat vectors" and expressed concerns that their usage might lead to the transfer of sensitive data to the People's Republic of China if utilized by government personnel or vendors. The department also warned that using DeepSeek by government agencies could yield actionable intelligence on US citizens and/or government entities.

Additionally, DHS stated that the models could potentially harbor malware or other security vulnerabilities. In a July memo released on Monday, DHS directed federal agencies to monitor traffic flows in and out of government websites to mitigate potential risks arising from DeepSeek. Several US agencies, including the Department of Commerce and the Navy, have previously banned the use of DeepSeek on government devices.

Numerous states, such as New York, Tennessee, and Virginia, have implemented similar measures. The Chinese Embassy in Washington has not yet commented on the matter.