US Considers Banning DeepSeek AI Chatbot on Government Devices Amid Security Concerns

The administration of Trump is contemplating a prohibition on the Chinese AI chatbot DeepSeek for use on US government devices due to concerns related to national security, according to a source familiar with the situation on Friday.

Officials in the US express concerns regarding DeepSeek’s management of user information, which the firm claims is stored on servers within China, as reported first by the Wall Street Journal.

Furthermore, officials are evaluating the possibility of restricting the chatbot from app marketplaces and imposing limitations on US-based cloud service providers regarding the distribution of DeepSeek’s AI models to their clients, the Journal reported, noting that these discussions are still in the preliminary phases.

DeepSeek’s affordable AI models caused a significant downturn in global stock markets in January, as investors feared that its introduction could undermine existing leaders in the AI field.

A coalition of 21 state attorneys general urged lawmakers on Thursday to enact legislation preventing government devices from downloading and utilizing DeepSeek artificial intelligence software.

The White House has not yet provided a response to a request for comment.

© Thomson Reuters 2025

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