US bans Chinese AI startup DeepSeek from federal agencies

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has mandated that federal civilian agencies remove DeepSeek products and any related third-party services from their IT infrastructure. The order, which also prohibits future procurement, follows an assessment that the China-based AI firm’s systems pose significant security threats, specifically regarding the potential exposure of sensitive U.S. data to the Chinese government.

Beijing responded to the move through the Foreign Ministry, with spokesperson Mao Ning stating that China opposes the politicization of technology and trade issues. The government pledged to protect the rights of its domestic companies, though DeepSeek has yet to comment on the matter.

This development highlights the ongoing friction between the two nations regarding AI governance and national security. The U.S. has previously alleged that companies like DeepSeek utilized large-scale data extraction from American AI models, a claim Beijing denies. These restrictions occur ahead of planned high-level talks between President Joe Biden and President Xi Jinping, where AI policy is expected to remain a central, contentious topic.