A new bill proposed by Republican Senator Josh Hawley aims to ban technology developed in China, such as the Chinese AI app Deepseek, in the United States. The law would impose heavy fines and jail time for violations, including up to 20 years in prison and fines up to $1 million for individuals and $100 million for businesses. While Deepseek is not explicitly named, the timing follows the app’s rapid rise in popularity, which raised concerns regarding security, privacy, and ethical issues.
Deepseek’s sudden success has caused a stir in the U.S. tech industry, leading to significant drops in tech stock values. Its ability to handle sensitive questions without addressing topics that may conflict with the Chinese Communist Party’s policies has raised alarms. U.S. officials are increasingly scrutinizing the app’s potential risks to national security, with President Donald Trump calling it a “wake-up call” for American technology.
The U.S. Navy has banned Deepseek for both work and personal use, and NASA has prohibited its use on government-issued devices. Texas became the first state to officially ban the app on government devices, with Governor Greg Abbott citing concerns over Chinese data harvesting and its potential infiltration of critical state infrastructure.
Security experts are warning that Deepseek poses a significant threat to U.S. businesses and government operations. With the app’s data being stored in China, experts point out that it could lead to compliance risks and data privacy violations. Bill Conner, a former security advisor to the U.S. government, stressed the potential unknown risks involved, highlighting that Deepseek’s shared cloud service may expose sensitive information to Chinese authorities.
The increasing attention on Deepseek highlights broader concerns about Chinese technology companies and their influence in the global market. As tensions rise over cybersecurity and national security, the proposed ban and growing resistance to Chinese-developed technologies signal a more cautious approach by the U.S. government and other countries to protect their infrastructure and data.
Source: BUSINESS DAY