Rising Concerns Over DeepSeek: Potential Legislation Looms
The AI startup DeepSeek has recently gained attention for its low-cost models, but a proposed piece of legislation threatens to halt its operations along with those of other Chinese AI entities in the United States. This bill not only aims to limit these companies but also seeks to impose penalties on individuals and businesses that utilize or endorse AI technologies sourced from China.
A Bill That Could Criminalize Usage of DeepSeek
Senator Josh Hawley, a Republican, introduced legislation last week focused on prohibiting the use and importation of artificial intelligence technologies developed in China. Should this proposal be enacted, both organizations and private individuals would be prevented from utilizing these products within US borders. Additionally, it would restrict American firms from exporting any AI technologies while also forbidding US stakeholders from assisting in the creation of rival Chinese systems.
The penalties outlined in this proposed law are severe; corporations found violating this ban could incur fines up to $100 million and may become barred from federal contracts for five years. Furthermore, individuals—including researchers and casual users—could face monetary penalties reaching $1 million as well as potential jail time.
This legislative push follows similar actions taken by various US government bodies like NASA and the Navy, which have prohibited the use of DeepSeek due to fears regarding possible exploitation by the Chinese government to gain access to sensitive information. Texas has already taken steps by formally banning this application.
The concerns surrounding DeepSeek extend beyond US borders; nations such as Australia, Italy, and Taiwan have imposed restrictions or outright bans on its usage based on analogous security threats.
Data Security Issues Surrounding DeepSeek
An alarming report indicated that DeepSeek’s database once exposed sensitive user information including chat histories and API keys publicly accessible online until it was reportedly rectified post-investigation. This poses additional concerns about data privacy associated with using such platforms.
Moreover, OpenAI claims evidence suggests that DeepSeek has been extracting significant amounts of data from their larger-scale models for training smaller competitive models. This strategy is thought to reduce hardware needs necessary for development, likely appealing financially to many companies navigating an expensive technological landscape.
The Path Ahead: More Legislation Possible?
A parallel scenario occurred involving TikTok when it faced considerable scrutiny over national security matters leading up to an attempted ban back in January 2023 after not satisfying stipulations related to selling off its American operations; it eventually received an extension through an executive order signed by former President Trump allowing more time for negotiation with officials .
