Senators request that the US look into DeepSeek’s data security concerns. Every line of code, every bit of data, and every user contact has the potential to raise issues that go well beyond programming, which is the more complicated reality hidden behind slick apps and clever software. These questions can occasionally be silently ignored. At other times, they become the centre of attention, particularly when national interests and multinational corporations collide. That’s precisely what’s going on right now, as American lawmakers start to demand answers regarding a certain business.
Republican senators demand an investigation of Chinese AI model data risks
A group of seven Republican U.S. senators on Tuesday asked the Commerce Department to evaluate potential data security vulnerabilities posed by Chinese open-source AI models like DeepSeek. The senators, led by Ted Budd and including Jon Husted, Todd Young, John Cornyn, John Curtis, Bill Cassidy, and Marsha Blackburn, want the Commerce Department to detail any threats from data collected by applications.
Applicants are being fed back to Chinese servers, or whether the AI models are feeding American personal or enterprise data to China’s military or companies with Chinese military ties. The letter also asks for details on “any findings related to how Chinese open-source models may have improperly accessed export-controlled semiconductors or violated use terms of U.S. models to advance their capabilities.”
Senators are pushing for DeepSeek to be prohibited from federal use
Senators have introduced bipartisan pieces of legislation to prohibit DeepSeek from operating on any federal government devices or networks and to prohibit federal contractors from using DeepSeek in government contracts. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said in January that it appeared DeepSeek had misappropriated U.S. AI technology and vowed to impose restrictions.
The Commerce Department did not immediately comment. In June, Reuters reported DeepSeek is aiding China’s military and intelligence operations, citing a senior U.S. official, adding that the Chinese tech startup sought to use Southeast Asian shell companies to access high-end semiconductors that cannot be shipped to China under U.S. rules.
Not just a privacy issue: Why user data is not the only issue at risk
This goes beyond app permissions and individual privacy. The DeepSeek controversy is being framed by lawmakers as a larger national interest issue in which AI technologies may be applied in ways beyond their intended application. Although there hasn’t been any documented data exploitation as of yet, there are worries regarding possible weaknesses and the absence of supervision when using such products in the US market.
Why lawmakers are taking notice of this issue:
- Large volumes of user data can be gathered and analysed by AI systems.
- Government pressure in their own countries may affect foreign tech companies.
- Schools, businesses, and even government contractors are implementing some AI platforms.
- There are issues in other industries, like within the aviation industry, and one of the companies, Delta, tells Congress that AI won’t set passenger prices.
DeepSeek has not yet officially addressed the demands for an investigation. The business insists that it abides by all applicable laws in the nations in which it conducts business. However, that hasn’t done much to allay worries in Washington, where possible security is now a major concern, and false information too.
The U.S. conclusions reflect a growing conviction in Washington that the capabilities behind the rapid rise of one of China’s flagship AI enterprises may have been exaggerated and relied heavily on U.S. technology. Hangzhou-based DeepSeek sent shockwaves through the technology world in January, saying its artificial intelligence reasoning models were on par with or better than U.S. industry-leading models at a fraction of the cost. AI keeps taking centre stage; right now, Beijing robot shops sell AI Einsteins and chess bots. However, there should be caution from now onwards.
GCN.com/Reuters