The U.S. government is considering banning the Chinese AI app DeepSeek from government devices due to national security concerns, according to the Wall Street Journal. This move adds to growing worries about foreign tech handling sensitive data.
Why DeepSeek Is a Concern
DeepSeek, launched in January 2025, quickly became popular for its advanced AI tools. But it also caught the eye of U.S. lawmakers over concerns about how it handles user data. The Chinese company says it stores data on servers in China, but officials believe it has not clearly explained how the data is used or who can access it.
The Trump administration is expected to introduce a rule blocking the download of DeepSeek’s chatbot on US government devices, sources said.
Officials are also weighing two other actions. They may ban the app from US app stores and restrict US cloud service providers from offering DeepSeek’s AI models. However, these discussions are still in the early stages, according to people familiar with the matter.
States and Other Countries Take Action against DeepSeek
The U.S. government has no full ban on DeepSeek, but some agencies, like the Navy and NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), have blocked the app over security and privacy fears. New York has banned the app from state devices, warning that it could risk user privacy. Also, Texas and other states have taken steps to limit the app’s use.
The U.S. is not alone in its concerns regarding DeepSeek. Countries like Australia, Canada, and South Korea have already blocked the app from their government networks.
What Comes Next for DeepSeek
The proposed ban may not stop with government devices. U.S. officials are also considering removing DeepSeek from app stores and blocking its access to American cloud services.
If the U.S. moves forward with these restrictions, DeepSeek could face major setbacks. Being removed from app stores would limit user growth and reduce its presence in one of the world’s largest tech markets.
Adding to its challenges, a recent NewsGuard audit found that DeepSeek’s chatbot had only 17% accuracy, with an 83% fail rate, worse than the 62% average of Western rivals like Microsoft-backed OpenAI’s ChatGPT (MSFT) and Google’s Gemini (GOOGL). With growing scrutiny and potential bans, DeepSeek’s future in the U.S. remains uncertain.
What Is the Best AI Stock to Buy?
For investors looking to dive into the rapidly growing artificial intelligence sector, selecting the right stocks can be challenging. To simplify the process, we’ve compiled a list of AI stocks that analysts are bullish about using the TipRanks Stocks Comparison tool.
