US Commerce Department Bans Employees from Using DeepSeek on Work Devices

The rapid development of artificial intelligence systems has become a challenge for information security, since huge amounts of data can include quite sensitive information. Guided by national security concerns, the US Department of Commerce has banned its employees from using DeepSeek on work devices.

Image source: Unsplash, Solen Feyissa

According to an internal newsletter cited by Reuters, the department’s employees’ devices are being denied access to the resources and applications of DeepSeek, a Chinese company that develops large language models and a chatbot of the same name. According to officials, this restriction is being introduced to protect the ministry’s information systems. The recommendation to employees literally reads as follows: “Do not download, view, or use any mobile or desktop applications or websites related to DeepSeek.”

Back in February, a group of US lawmakers proposed a legislative ban on the use of DeepSeek solutions on official devices of US officials. This month, a letter recommending this ban was sent to various US agencies. Congressmen are concerned that DeepSeek users may unwittingly provide the Chinese side with access to important government documents, including contract texts and financial statements. A coalition of attorneys general from 21 states has already appealed to the US parliament with a call to ban the use of DeepSeek on official devices of officials. At the local level, similar bans are already in effect in Virginia, Texas, and New York State, as well as in some other states.