US orders federal agencies to purge Chinese DeepSeek AI, China protests
The Department of Homeland Security issued a notice prohibiting federal civilian agencies from purchasing or retaining DeepSeek AI services, while Beijing warned against politicising technology.
By Felo News Desk · Published
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that all federal civilian agencies must cease acquiring and must remove from their IT systems any products or services developed by Chinese AI startup DeepSeek, as well as third‑party offerings that incorporate DeepSeek technology, citing national‑security concerns.
What happened
The DHS notice, published in the Federal Register in late July and made public on Monday, requires agencies to stop purchasing DeepSeek products and to delete existing installations. Agencies may request exceptions, but the default order covers both DeepSeek’s own offerings and any third‑party tools built on its models.
What the reports add
TechCrunch reported that the order extends beyond DeepSeek’s direct products to include third‑party services that use its technology, and that agencies can apply for exemptions. The Independent added that the Federal Register notice specifically alleged that DeepSeek’s models “present multiple threat vectors,” highlighting concerns about server location in China and potential access by Chinese authorities to U.S. data.
What was said
According to TechCrunch, a DHS statement warned that “sensitive information from US government users could potentially be accessible to Chinese authorities under Chinese law.” The Independent quoted the same DHS notice on the threat‑vector claim. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters, as cited by both outlets, that Beijing “opposes overstretching the concept of national security and politicizing technology and trade issues” and will “resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises.”
How it came about
The ban follows a broader U.S. effort to limit Chinese AI influence amid an intensifying technology race, a theme explored in Felo’s coverage of former President Trump’s warning about data‑center shifts to China. Earlier this month, the Chinese government defended DeepSeek’s open‑source models, noting their widespread availability, a point echoed in the Independent’s background on the company’s global reach.
Key facts
- The DHS ordered federal civilian agencies to stop purchasing and to remove DeepSeek AI products and any third‑party services that use its technology. (techcrunch.com)
- The order cites national‑security concerns, including the possibility that Chinese authorities could access U.S. government data. (techcrunch.com)
- China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Beijing opposes politicising technology and will protect Chinese companies’ rights. (independent.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] techcrunch.com
- [2] independent.co.uk
