U.S. Lawmakers Propose Criminalizing Use of Chinese AI Model DeepSeek

A newly proposed bill in the U.S. Senate aims to make it illegal for Americans to download or use DeepSeek. The legislation, introduced by Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) on Monday, seeks to block the import and export of AI technology between the U.S. and China, citing national security concerns.

While DeepSeek is not explicitly named in the Decoupling America’s Artificial Intelligence Capabilities from China Act, the bill broadly targets Chinese AI companies and their access to U.S. technology. Hawley framed the legislation as a necessary step to prevent American innovation from benefiting China’s Communist Party.

“America cannot afford to empower our greatest adversary at the expense of our own strength,” said Hawley, emphasizing the risks associated with U.S. technology subsidizing Chinese AI advancements.

DeepSeek’s Disruptive Impact on AI and Security

DeepSeek’s latest model, R1, raised alarms in the AI sector after reports surfaced that it was developed at a fraction of the cost of OpenAI’s GPT-4. The model’s rapid emergence disrupted tech markets and sparked fears over its competitive pricing advantage.

Adding to the controversy, OpenAI accused DeepSeek of training its model on proprietary OpenAI data, a claim that has been met with irony given OpenAI’s own history of data-scraping allegations.

Beyond economic concerns, DeepSeek has drawn criticism for its data privacy practices. The company’s privacy policy allows extensive data collection, with all information stored on Chinese servers, raising fears of potential government access.

Users have also reported censorship, noting the model’s refusal to discuss politically sensitive topics like Tiananmen Square and Uyghur oppression.

Harsh Penalties for AI Use

Unlike the federal restrictions placed on TikTok, which focused on banning the app from government devices, Hawley’s proposal would criminalize individual usage of DeepSeek. The bill, if enacted, would impose fines of up to $1 million, prison sentences of up to 20 years, or both, under the Export Control Reform Act of 2018.

The bill also aims to prevent U.S. companies from conducting AI research in China, collaborating with Chinese firms, or investing in Chinese AI companies. The broad scope of the legislation appears to be designed to close loopholes that allowed DeepSeek to develop despite existing U.S. restrictions on Nvidia GPUs.

Potential Backlash and Innovation Concerns

While some argue the bill is necessary to curb Chinese AI dominance, critics have raised concerns about its potential consequences for innovation. Users on X (formerly Twitter) have suggested that restricting AI research could ultimately hinder U.S. technological advancements while pushing Chinese firms to develop alternative solutions outside American oversight.

As the legislation moves through Congress, the debate over balancing national security with technological progress is expected to intensify.