The Trump administration is reportedly considering banning DeepSeek, a Chinese AI chatbot, from U.S. government devices due to national security concerns, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Key Concerns:
- User Data Security: Officials are worried about how DeepSeek handles user data, as the company stores information on servers located in China.
- Potential App Store Ban: The administration is exploring blocking DeepSeek from U.S. app stores and limiting how U.S.-based cloud providers can offer its AI models.
- Market Disruptions: DeepSeek’s low-cost AI models caused a global market sell-off in January, as investors feared competition against current AI leaders.
Government Push for a Ban:
- A group of 21 state attorneys general has urged Congress to pass a bill barring DeepSeek’s use on government devices.
- Discussions within the administration are still at an early stage, and no formal decision has been made yet.
White House Response:
The White House has not yet commented on the potential ban, but the move aligns with previous actions against Chinese tech companies like TikTok and Huawei due to data security concerns.
If implemented, this could further escalate U.S.-China tech tensions, especially in the AI sector, which has become a key battleground in global competition.
