Lawmakers Move to Prohibit DeepSeek App on Government Devices Amid Security Concerns

[Social Media]

 

WASHINGTON—A bipartisan effort is underway to ban the DeepSeek chatbot application from all government-owned devices due to fears that the app could provide user data to the Chinese government. The bill, set to be introduced Thursday, is spearheaded by Representatives Darin LaHood, a Republican from Illinois, and Josh Gottheimer, a Democrat from New Jersey. The move mirrors past congressional action against TikTok, which led to the app's prohibition on government devices and initiated efforts to block its operations in the U.S.  

 

"This should be a no-brainer in terms of actions we should take immediately to prevent our enemy from getting information from our government," Gottheimer said.  

 

DeepSeek, a Chinese AI company that burst onto the scene just last month, has rapidly become the most downloaded app in the U.S. The company’s decision to release its AI models as open-source software contributed to its immediate popularity among businesses, developers, and consumers. However, concerns have emerged over its potential risks to data security.  

 

An analysis conducted by Ivan Tsarynny, CEO of Feroot Security, a firm specializing in data protection and cybersecurity, revealed that the chatbot contains concealed code capable of transmitting user login information to China Mobile, a state-owned telecommunications company banned from operating in the U.S. The Associated Press had previously published Tsarynny’s findings.  

 

"Our personal information is being sent to China, there is no denial, and the DeepSeek tool is collecting everything that American users connect to it," Tsarynny stated in an interview.  

 

This revelation prompted LaHood and Gottheimer to craft legislation aimed at blocking DeepSeek from government networks. Both lawmakers hold key positions on a subcommittee of the House Select Committee on Intelligence, making them central figures in U.S. cybersecurity oversight.  

"Under no circumstances can we allow a CCP company to obtain sensitive government or personal data," LaHood emphasized, referring to the Chinese Communist Party.  

 

Several countries have already moved to restrict DeepSeek's access to government systems. On Tuesday, Australia announced a ban on the app from its government networks, citing data-security concerns. Key ministries in South Korea implemented similar restrictions this week, and Italy had already done so in January.  

 

Some federal agencies, including the U.S. Navy and NASA, have already blocked the app due to security and privacy concerns. Texas was the first U.S. state to implement a ban on DeepSeek for government devices, citing national-security risks.  

 

The approach taken against DeepSeek closely resembles Congress’s actions against TikTok in 2022 when the app was banned from government devices as part of a spending bill. Lawmakers were concerned that the Chinese government could access user data, leading to further efforts to prohibit the app entirely unless it severed ties with its Chinese parent company, ByteDance.  

 

Although Congress passed legislation requiring TikTok to secure an American buyer, the deadline passed without a sale. In response, President Trump extended the timeframe for TikTok to divest its U.S. operations. The company has repeatedly denied sharing American user data with the Chinese government, asserting that it would not comply with such a request.

 

Based on a report by WSJ 2025-02-08

 

 

[thesetat]

They need to ban it across the country in any sensitive work. Personally, i would be happy if they banned it across the world. The same goes for Siri in Apple and Chatgpt and all the other programs similar to this. 

These apps are constantly listening through your microphones unless you deliberately disable their permissions. ( I am not saying they all do this, only they have the capability to do it ) Which means they can listen and record and transmit anything heard which is ridiculous and violates your personal rights. 

[Gweiloman]

I wouldn’t be surprised if US lawmakers will ban Chinese made toothbrushes next, as a matter of national security. To call them morons will be doing an injustice to morons.

[hotsun]

3 minutes ago, Gweiloman said:

I wouldn’t be surprised if US lawmakers will ban Chinese made toothbrushes next, as a matter of national security. To call them morons will be doing an injustice to morons.

Its reciprocal. China and russia also dont want their citizens access to anything western. But what you consider smart of the chinese you call dumb of americans

[mrwebb8825]

On 2/7/2025 at 5:44 PM, thesetat said:

They need to ban it across the country in any sensitive work. Personally, i would be happy if they banned it across the world. The same goes for Siri in Apple and Chatgpt and all the other programs similar to this. 

These apps are constantly listening through your microphones unless you deliberately disable their permissions. ( I am not saying they all do this, only they have the capability to do it ) Which means they can listen and record and transmit anything heard which is ridiculous and violates your personal rights. 

What they heard last night probably made several of them head for cold showers. 😁

12 hours ago, Gweiloman said:

I wouldn’t be surprised if US lawmakers will ban Chinese made toothbrushes next, as a matter of national security. To call them morons will be doing an injustice to morons.

Good for you! Stand tall and proud for the rights of your fellow morons.

12 hours ago, hotsun said:

Its reciprocal. China and russia also dont want their citizens access to anything western. But what you consider smart of the chinese you call dumb of americans

Communist Disinformation.

[JonnyF]

DeepSeek doesn't have insane levels of Liberal lefty bias like ChatGPT or Google.

 

I like it.

 

I'm sick of having to go to page 6 of a very specific Google search to find a story I know exists simply because it is critical of Biden or some other crime family/lefty politician. 

 

 

 

 

[thesetat]

3 hours ago, JonnyF said:

DeepSeek doesn't have insane levels of Liberal lefty bias like ChatGPT or Google.

 

I like it.

 

I'm sick of having to go to page 6 of a very specific Google search to find a story I know exists simply because it is critical of Biden or some other crime family/lefty politician. 

 

 

 

 

You are correct. Instead it has misinformation or bias information about things negative to China. Same difference really. Noone wants the real truths released for public consumption.