In a notable development highlighting the ongoing tensions between the United States and China regarding data security, DeepSeek, a widely used AI chatbot linked to a Chinese telecom firm, has been prohibited from operating in the U.S.
This action comes amid rising worries about potential violations of data privacy and national security. Security experts have recently indicated that DeepSeek, which has become popular for its sophisticated artificial intelligence features, is associated with China Mobile, a state-owned telecommunications company already banned from conducting business in the U.S. Investigations have shown that DeepSeek’s platform included web code that could send user login details to China Mobile, raising concerns about the risk of unauthorized data access
While researchers did not find evidence of active data transfers to China Mobile from users in North America, the mere possibility of such transfers has prompted increased scrutiny from lawmakers and security officials.
This finding has intensified fears that sensitive user information could be accessible to the Chinese government, a concern that frequently arises in discussions about foreign-backed digital platforms. Texas has taken the lead as the first U.S. state to implement a ban, prohibiting DeepSeek from all government-issued devices. Governor Greg Abbott’s order also applies to other Chinese-backed applications, such as RedNote and Lemon8, citing similar security risks.
“We cannot allow foreign adversaries to compromise the privacy of our citizens,” Abbott stated, calling on federal regulators to take more extensive measures. This action is part of a broader trend of restrictions on Chinese-developed technology in the U.S. In recent years, similar concerns have prompted calls for bans on apps like TikTok and WeChat, with officials warning that these platforms could be used for espionage or data harvesting by the Chinese Communist Party.
