New York State has set a precedent by becoming the first state in the US to ban DeepSeek from government devices.
The news comes even as the DeepSeek AI app gains thousands of fans across the US, taking the number one spot in both the Apple and Google App stores.
The US Government – and AI ventures in the country – are reeling from the impact of the Chinese upstart, which has created a competing model to ChatGPT and others but at a fraction of the cost.
Directive Issued on DeepSeek
Citing “serious concerns”, Governor Kathy Hochul has issued the directive, which bans DeepSeek’s AI app being downloaded on “ITS-managed government devices and networks”.
The directive states: “Serious concerns have been raised concerning DeepSeek AI’s connection to foreign government surveillance and censorship, including how DeepSeek can be used to harvest user data and steal technology secrets.”
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DeepSeek is open that the data it collects from users is stored on servers in China and has not countered claims that the app returns censored results, when asked about matters sensitive to the Chinese Government.
Widespread Suspicion of Chinese AI Platform
Governor Hochul addressed both of these issues in a statement announcing the directive. She said: “Public safety is my top priority and we’re working aggressively to protect New Yorkers from foreign and domestic threats,” adding: “New York will continue fighting to combat cyber threats, ensure the privacy and safety of our data, and safeguard against state-sponsored censorship.”
New York State is not, however, the first Governmental organization to take action. At the end of last month, CNBC News reported that that US Navy had also initiated a ban. The warning was sent by email and stated that DeepSeek’s AI was not to be used “in any capacity” due to “potential security and ethical concerns associated with the model’s origin and usage.” The memo emphasized that this stands “for any work-related tasks or personal use.”
Are More DeepSeek Bans Coming?
The answer is probably yes. As NBC News reports, Congress has introduced a bipartisan bill to ban DeepSeek on federal government devices. This builds on the action now taken by New York State. “The technology race with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is not one the United States can afford to lose,” said Congressman Darin LaHood and Josh Gottheimer, who introduced the legislation. “The national security threat that DeepSeek — a CCP-affiliated company — poses to the United States is alarming.”
There is also another bill in the offing from Senator Josh Hawley, which, if passed, would prohibit Americans from downloading the DeepSeek app (and other Chinese AI tools). It comes with the threat of jail time for citizens and punitive fines for businesses.
However, the bill has yet to pass but it is another indication of how concerned authorities are about the rise of DeepSeek – and it’s not just a fiscal concern.
