Deepseek Banned On Devices Used By U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureaus, According To Insider Reports

The U.S. Commerce Department has recently informed its staff that the Chinese artificial intelligence model DeepSeek is prohibited on government devices, as reported by Reuters and confirmed by two sources familiar with the situation.

In a mass email to employees about their government-furnished equipment (GFE), officials stated, “To ensure the safety of Department of Commerce information systems, access to the new Chinese AI DeepSeek is generally forbidden on all GFE.” The message advised staff to refrain from downloading, viewing, or accessing any applications, desktop software, or websites associated with DeepSeek.

The Commerce Department has not yet responded to a request for comment, and Reuters has not been able to ascertain the full scope of the ban across the U.S. government. DeepSeek’s low-cost AI models caused significant declines in global equity markets back in January, prompting concerns among investors about the potential impact on the U.S.’s competitive edge in AI technology.

U.S. officials and congressional members have voiced worries regarding DeepSeek’s implications for data privacy and the safeguarding of sensitive government information. Representatives Josh Gottheimer and Darin LaHood, both part of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, introduced legislation in February to prohibit DeepSeek on government devices.

Earlier this month, they sent letters to governors across the U.S. urging similar bans on this Chinese AI application for government-issued hardware. In a letter dated March 3, the lawmakers cautioned, “Using DeepSeek puts users at risk of inadvertently sharing highly sensitive and proprietary information with the Communist Party of China (CCP) – including contracts, documents, and financial records. If such data falls into the wrong hands, it represents a significant asset for the CCP, a recognized foreign adversary.”

Additionally, several states, such as Virginia, Texas, and New York, have enacted bans on the model for government devices, and a coalition of 21 state attorneys general has called on Congress to pass relevant legislation.