US orders China's DeepSeek removed from federal civilian agency networks

The United States has ordered software from Chinese AI company DeepSeek removed from federal civilian agency networks, citing espionage and cybersecurity risks.

The United States has ordered software from Chinese artificial intelligence company Hangzhou DeepSeek removed from federal civilian agency networks, citing espionage and cybersecurity risks amid intensifying technology competition with Beijing.

James Percival, general counsel of the Department of Homeland Security, said in the directive that DeepSeek's models carry multiple threat vectors. He noted that the company's servers are in China and that Chinese law gives the government broad access to private companies' infrastructure through its cybersecurity and intelligence services.

Servers in a data center

The directive warned that the platform's interactive nature could expose sensitive operational queries to foreign interference and ordered civilian executive branch agencies to immediately remove DeepSeek software, connected tools and applications built on the company's infrastructure.