Calls to Ban Chinese AI App DeepSeek Due to Data Harvesting Concerns

State attorneys general are urging Congress to ban the Chinese-owned DeepSeek AI app on government devices, citing national security risks. They argue that DeepSeek could be exploited by Chinese spies to steal sensitive information. A letter signed by 21 AGs highlights concerns over the app's data collection capabilities, which include chat history and IP addresses. The House Energy and Commerce Committee has initiated a probe into DeepSeek, demanding information on the data used to train its AI models and any connections to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Several states, including New York, Texas, and Virginia, have already banned the app from government devices. Other countries, such as Canada and Australia, have also blocked DeepSeek due to similar security concerns. The app's capabilities are reportedly comparable to those of OpenAI's ChatGPT but at a lower operational cost. This situation mirrors previous concerns surrounding TikTok and its data-sharing practices.

Key Points: • 21 state AGs urge Congress to ban DeepSeek on government devices due to security risks. • House Energy and Commerce Committee is probing DeepSeek for potential data harvesting for the CCP. • DeepSeek has been banned from government devices in multiple states and several countries.