WASHINGTON: A group of US lawmakers has introduced a bill to ban DeepSeek on government devices.
The bill proposes heavy fines and prison sentences for users.
South Korea has already banned the Chinese AI chatbot on government devices, citing security risks.
The legislation aims to stop US citizens from helping China advance its AI technology. It follows similar concerns that led to TikTok’s ban.
If passed, the bill would impose fines of up to $1 million and prison terms of up to 20 years for individuals using DeepSeek. Businesses using the chatbot could face fines of up to $100 million.
Republican Senator Josh Hawley introduced the bill. He warned about data security risks and the possible transfer of US user data to China.
Hawley also raised concerns over DeepSeek’s security, privacy, and ethics.
The US would not be the first to ban DeepSeek. Italy has already banned it for privacy reasons, and Texas has enforced a similar ban.
Taiwan and Australia are also considering restrictions.
Also Read: South Korea blocks DeepSeek over security concerns
DeepSeek gained attention after launching its R1 model in January 2025. It offers a cheaper alternative to competitors like ChatGPT.
