US bans DeepSeek from civilian government systems

DHS cited multiple security threats, noting that DeepSeek models require users to provide personally identifiable information (PII) and proprietary data. The agency argued that Chinese laws allow the government to access data stored by private companies, potentially exposing US citizens and government programs to foreign intelligence. Additionally, DHS stated that the models may contain malware, referencing open-source research that found critical vulnerabilities in the DeepSeek iOS app.

China’s foreign ministry rejected the move, with spokesperson Mao Ning stating that China opposes the politicization of science and trade. This ban is part of a broader US effort to restrict Chinese technology in government infrastructure, following previous blacklists of companies like Huawei and ZTE. The FCC is also expected to vote soon on preventing Chinese labs from testing hardware in the US.