DeepSeek users in US could face million-dollar fines, prison time

A newly proposed law could see people in the United States facing hefty fines or even jail time for using the Chinese artificial intelligence app, DeepSeek.

The bill, introduced by Republican Senator Josh Hawley, seeks to “prohibit United States persons from advancing artificial intelligence capabilities within the People’s Republic of China, and for other persons.” 

It would bar the importation of “technology or intellectual property” developed in China, with violators facing up to 20 years in prison. Individuals could be fined up to $1 million, while businesses could see penalties as high as $100 million.

Although DeepSeek is not explicitly named in the legislation, the bill comes just a week after the Chinese chatbot became the most popular AI app in the US, a surge that triggered a sharp decline in US tech stocks. 

Concerns over security, privacy, and ethics have intensified, particularly over DeepSeek’s inability to respond to questions on topics sensitive to the Chinese Communist Party.

US President Donald Trump described the app’s rise as a wake-up call for the American tech industry. The White House is reportedly evaluating the potential national security risks posed by DeepSeek.

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Government agencies have already taken action against the app. The United States Navy has prohibited its personnel from using DeepSeek for both work-related and personal purposes, while NASA has banned the technology on government-issued devices and networks.

Several states are also considering restrictions, with Texas leading the way as the first to impose a ban on government devices.

“Texas will not allow the Chinese Communist Party to infiltrate our state’s critical infrastructure through data-harvesting AI and social media apps,” said Texas Governor Greg Abbott. “Texas will continue to protect and defend our state from hostile foreign actors.”

Security experts have warned that DeepSeek could pose an even greater threat to businesses and governments than other Chinese-owned platforms such as TikTok, as its data is stored on servers in China.

“DeepSeek represents a clear risk for any enterprise whose leadership values data privacy, security and transparency,” said Bill Conner, chief executive of automation firm Jitterbit and former security advisor to the US government.

“As stated in their own privacy policy, DeepSeek is a shared cloud service run in China with data being stored in China – potentially introducing unknown risks to data privacy, compliance mandates and security controls.”

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