US bans use of DeepSeek in government agencies
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The US government ordered its agencies to stop using artificial intelligence tools from Chinese startup DeepSeek, including third-party products based on the technology, and required them to be removed from devices. The Department of Homeland Security says the models present “multiple threat vectors” and that their use by US government employees or contractors could result in sensitive data being transferred to China. The department says the company’s servers are located there, where the legal system gives the government broad authority to access private companies’ infrastructure.
The guidance can reach civilian agencies, but not the armed forces or intelligence services. The measure comes amid a US-China contest for AI leadership; DeepSeek drew attention in January 2025 after releasing a low-cost, high-performance chatbot, while the US accused the company and other Chinese firms of copying capabilities from advanced American models.
Why it matters · editorial interpretation
The order turns concerns about data transfers and access to infrastructure into a concrete restriction for US civilian agencies, including when they use third-party products based on the technology. The exception for the armed forces and intelligence services limits the measure’s scope, while the competition for AI leadership adds a geopolitical dimension.
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