The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has ordered civilian federal agencies to remove DeepSeek products, citing national security and data privacy risks.
Key facts
- •The DHS directive covers both direct DeepSeek products and third-party services built using the AI model.
- •Agencies are required to monitor network traffic to address risks associated with the software.
- •The Chinese Embassy in Washington did not immediately provide a comment on the directive.
- •The order follows previous bans on DeepSeek by the U.S. Navy and the Department of Commerce.
- •State-level restrictions on the software have been enacted in New York, Tennessee, and Virginia.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has directed civilian federal agencies to remove all DeepSeek products and third-party services powered by the Chinese AI model from their IT systems. The directive also prohibits the future acquisition of these products by U.S. civilian government agencies. According to a notice published Monday, the department cited concerns that the technology poses significant security threats to the United States.
Security and Data Concerns
DHS officials stated that DeepSeek models present multiple threat vectors, including the potential for sensitive government data to be transferred to the People's Republic of China. The department warned that the use of these models by government employees or vendors could result in the collection of actionable intelligence on U.S. persons and agencies. Furthermore, officials noted that the software itself may contain malware or other vulnerabilities.
Broader Government Restrictions
The new directive builds on previous actions taken by various U.S. entities. Several federal agencies, including the Department of Commerce and the Navy, had already restricted the use of DeepSeek on government devices. Additionally, states such as New York, Tennessee, and Virginia have implemented similar bans. The DHS has also instructed federal agencies to monitor traffic flows in and out of government websites to mitigate potential risks.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Daily Sabah.
