Several US Commerce Department bureaus have recently prohibited using the Chinese AI model DeepSeek on government-issued devices, according to internal communications and sources familiar with the matter.

A mass email circulated among staff emphasised the importance of safeguarding departmental information systems, instructing employees to refrain from downloading, viewing, or accessing any applications, desktop apps, or websites associated with DeepSeek. ?

The case reflects escalating apprehensions among US officials and legislators regarding data privacy and the potential exposure of sensitive government information through DeepSeek's usage.

In February, Representatives Josh Gottheimer and Darin LaHood, House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence members, introduced legislation to ban DeepSeek on government devices. They also contacted state governors, urging similar prohibitions at the state level. In a letter dated 3 March, the lawmakers cautioned that using DeepSeek could inadvertently share highly sensitive and proprietary information with the Chinese Communist Party, including contracts, documents, and financial records. ?

Several states, including Virginia, Texas, and New York, have already implemented bans on DeepSeek for government devices. A coalition of 21 state attorneys general has called on Congress to enact comprehensive legislation addressing this issue.

The concerns stem from DeepSeek's rapid emergence as a low-cost AI model, which has disrupted global equity markets and posed a potential threat to the United States' leadership in AI. ?

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