DeepSeek And Other Chinese AIs Might Be Banned In The US
The controversy surrounding DeepSeek, the Chinese artificial intelligence company, continues to grow. Experts and authorities have detected multiple “red flags” that point to potential risks to user privacy and even national security. Now, a bill from a senator proposes big fines and jail time for using DeepSeek in the country.
Senator proposes fines and jail for using DeepSeek in the US
Josh Hawley, a Republican senator, has filed a bill that seeks to ban the use of Chinese AI platforms in the United States. Although the bill does not specifically mention DeepSeek (it encompasses all AI chatbots developed in China), it comes on the heels of the service’s rise in popularity and growing warnings about its potential risks. Last weekend, the DeepSeek chatbot became the most downloaded free app on Apple’s App Store in the US. It surpassed another popular AI service: ChatGPT.
The bill is drafted to “prohibit United States persons from advancing artificial intelligence capabilities within the People’s Republic of China, and for other persons.” It calls for fines of up to $1 million and 20 years in prison for those who flout the restrictions. In the case of companies, penalties for using Chinese AI platforms could reach up to $100 million.
The senator argues that Chinese AI platforms pose “security, privacy, and ethics” risks. Recent tests confirmed that DeepSeek’s outputs are biased when it comes to sensitive topics for the Chinese government. Experts also found that the platform is prone to jailbreaking. Plus, DeepSeek’s servers are in China. US officials and experts have warned about Chinese laws that allow the government to request data from companies on their servers if they are based in the country.
Countries that have banned DeepSeek
Italy was the first country to completely ban DeepSeek for the entire population. Taiwan has set a ban on the use of DeepSeek AI models on government-issued devices. Meanwhile, in the US, Texas has gone ahead and banned the platform on government devices. Institutions in the US, such as the Navy and NASA, have also placed access restrictions, according to reports.
In related news, Google recently updated its “AI Principles.” Now, the company appears willing to offer its AI technology for weapon development and surveillance projects. Google representatives said the change comes amid a reality where companies and governments need to be able to defend national security.
