Members of the U.S. Congress have urged state governors to ban the use of the Chinese DeepSeek software on government employees’ work devices.
The members justified their decision by citing concerns over data privacy and potential cybersecurity risks, according to NBC.
The letter, sent by Democratic Representative Josh Gottheimer and Republican Representative Darin LaHood to 47 governors and the mayor of Washington, warns that using DeepSeek on work devices could grant “foreign adversaries” access to sensitive government information.
NBC quoted the letter as stating: “The Chinese Communist Party has made it clear that it intends to use every tool at its disposal to undermine our national security, spread harmful disinformation, and collect data on Americans. Banning [government officials from using DeepSeek] would send a strong signal that your state is committed to maintaining a high level of security and preventing one of our key adversaries from accessing government information.”
In early February, Gottheimer and LaHood had already introduced a bill in Congress aimed at banning the installation of DeepSeek software on government employees’ devices.
In response to all the news surrounding the application, DeepSeek warned internet users about the spread of false information about it and recommended using its official websites.
On January 20, DeepSeek announced the new R1 version of its AI-powered smart assistant. This release generated significant buzz in the tech industry, and shortly afterward, the DeepSeek app ranked first in downloads on the App Store in several countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Japan, South Korea, and China.