According to The Independent, a new bill introduced by Republican Senator Josh Hawley aims to ban U.S. citizens from using Chinese AI applications, including DeepSeek. The legislation also seeks to prohibit the import of “technology or intellectual property” developed in China. Individuals violating the law could face up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $1 million, while businesses could be fined up to $100 million.
While the bill does not specifically mention DeepSeek, the announcement comes just a week after the Chinese chatbot became the most popular AI application in the U.S., causing a decline in American tech stocks. DeepSeek’s sudden rise has sparked concerns about security, privacy, and ethics, especially as the app refuses to answer sensitive questions related to China.
DeepSeek as a “Wake-Up Call” for U.S. Tech
Former President Donald Trump described DeepSeek as a “wake-up call” for the U.S. tech industry, while the White House is reviewing its potential impact on national security. The U.S. Navy has already banned its personnel from using DeepSeek for both professional and personal purposes, and NASA has also prohibited the technology on government-issued devices and networks.
Several U.S. states, including Texas, have begun considering bans on DeepSeek. Texas was the first state to implement a prohibition on the app for government devices.
Security Risks and Expert Warnings
Cybersecurity experts warn that DeepSeek may pose a greater threat to businesses and governments than other Chinese apps like TikTok, as its data is stored on servers in China.
Bill Conner, a former security advisor to the U.S. government, stated:
“DeepSeek represents a clear risk for any business that values privacy, security, and data transparency.”
He emphasized that DeepSeek is a China-based cloud service, meaning its data storage location could present unknown risks related to privacy and security control.
