The US Department of Homeland Security has mandated that civilian federal agencies delete DeepSeek software and related third-party services from their internal networks, according to The Hindu BusinessLine. A notice released on Monday also halted the purchase of new DeepSeek-based tools. Officials argued that the Chinese AI model creates multiple security risks, including the possibility that confidential data might flow to Beijing or that the code itself could harbor hidden vulnerabilities. The Hindu BusinessLine reported that a memo from July, revealed on Monday, had already instructed agencies to track data traffic entering and leaving government websites to monitor these risks.
This federal action expands on earlier restrictions implemented by individual branches and states. The Hindu BusinessLine noted that the Department of Commerce and the Navy had previously restricted DeepSeek on their hardware. Several state governments, such as those in New York, Tennessee, and Virginia, had also adopted similar bans. The Chinese Embassy in Washington had not yet issued an immediate response to the new federal directive, according to the report.
Beijing reacted swiftly to the US move. Mao Ning, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, stated on Tuesday that the nation would defend the core interests of its technology companies, according to Reuters via The Hindu BusinessLine. She argued that Washington often over-generalizes security concerns and politicizes scientific and trade matters. This diplomatic pushback occurs as the Trump administration continues to tighten regulations on Chinese tech rivals.
The Hindu BusinessLine detailed several parallel efforts by the Federal Communications Commission. The agency plans to vote on October 29 to restrict Chinese laboratories from testing US-bound electronics, a major change since last year when nearly 82% of such devices underwent testing in China. Previously, the FCC blocked new Chinese drones and routers, and it has suggested limiting how US telecom carriers connect with specific Chinese firms deemed security risks.