The US Department of Homeland Security has mandated that all civilian federal agencies remove software and services from the Chinese startup Hangzhou DeepSeek Artificial Intelligence from their systems. The directive also prohibits the procurement of any third-party solutions developed using DeepSeek technology.
Officials cited national security concerns, noting that DeepSeek servers are located in China, where local laws may grant authorities access to private company data. The regulator warned that the use of these AI models by government employees could lead to the transfer of sensitive information to the PRC.
The agency highlighted potential risks, including the collection of personal data, user tracking, and the presence of vulnerabilities. The directive references research identifying critical flaws in the DeepSeek iOS application. Agencies are advised to monitor network traffic until the software is fully removed.
The order excludes the Pentagon, the intelligence community, and systems handling classified information. It does not apply to private companies or individual users. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency is responsible for providing technical support for the implementation of this mandate.
Prior to this directive, several US entities, including NASA, the Navy, and the House of Representatives, had already restricted DeepSeek usage. State-level bans were also implemented in Texas, New York, and Virginia. This move aligns with the broader policy of the Trump administration to limit Chinese technology.
