The US Commerce Department has banned the Chinese artificial intelligence model DeepSeek on their government devices, citing risks to data privacy and sensitive information, as per a recent report by Reuters. 

In a recent email to staffers that was seen by Reuters, the department warned against downloading or accessing any DeepSeek-related applications, websites, or desktop apps, stating the move is necessary to "keep Department of Commerce information systems safe."

The ban reflects growing concerns among US officials about DeepSeek's potential to compromise national security. Lawmakers and intelligence experts fear that using the AI model could expose sensitive government data, including contracts, documents, and financial records, to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

In February, Congressmen Josh Gottheimer and Darin LaHood, members of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, introduced legislation to ban DeepSeek on government devices nationwide. In a March 3 letter to US governors, they warned, "By using DeepSeek, users are unknowingly sharing highly sensitive, proprietary information with the CCP. In the wrong hands, this data is an enormous asset to the CCP, a known foreign adversary."

The lawmakers urged states to follow suit, and several, including Virginia, Texas, and New York, have already implemented bans. A coalition of 21 state attorneys general has also called on Congress to pass federal legislation restricting DeepSeek's use.

DeepSeek, known for its low-cost AI models, sparked a global equity market selloff in January as investors worried about its potential to challenge US dominance in AI. While the extent of the ban across the federal government remains unclear, the Commerce Department's move signals a broader effort to safeguard sensitive information from foreign adversaries.

The ban underlines the escalating tensions between the US and China over AI technology, with US officials increasingly wary of the risks posed by Chinese-developed tools. As DeepSeek's influence grows, the US government is taking decisive steps to protect its data and maintain its competitive edge in the global AI race.