U.S. Senator Proposes Bill to Criminalize Use of Chinese AI Models, Sparking Debate on Innovation and Security

U.S. Senate's Proposed Bill : 20-Year Prison Terms for Using Chinese AI Models

Imagine this: you're scrolling through your favorite AI repository, excited to test out a new model that promises new capabilities. It's open source, widely discussed, and seems like a fantastic option. But what if downloading that model could land you in prison for 20 years or leave you facing a $1 million fine? Sounds extreme, right? Yet, this could soon become a reality for anyone engaging with AI models developed in China, like the much-discussed DeepSeek. A newly proposed U.S. Senate bill, led by Senator Josh Hawley, is making waves for its harsh penalties and its aim to curb China's influence in the AI space. While the bill is framed as a national security measure, it's sparking intense debate about its broader implications for innovation, collaboration, and personal freedoms. At the heart of this controversy lies a growing tension between safeguarding national security and fostering the open exchange of ideas that fuels technological progress. For developers, researchers, and even casual users of AI, the stakes couldn't be higher. Could this legislation stifle the very innovation it seeks to protect? Or is it a necessary step to address the risks of AI weaponization and geopolitical competition? This overview by Wes Roth goes into the details of the proposed bill, the fears it has ignited, and the far-reaching consequences it could have -- not just for the tech world, but for anyone who values the freedom to explore and innovate. Proposed U.S. AI Bill A newly proposed U.S. Senate bill, spearheaded by Senator Josh Hawley, seeks to impose stringent penalties on individuals who download or use artificial intelligence (AI) models developed in China, such as the DeepSeek AI model. The proposed bill introduces a series of measures aimed at restricting the use and distribution of AI technologies originating from China. Key provisions include: These measures are part of a broader strategy to curb China's advancements in AI, a field increasingly viewed as critical to both national security and economic power. By targeting individual users, corporate collaborations, and cross-border exchanges, the legislation aims to reduce China's influence in the global AI market while reinforcing the U.S.'s technological leadership. Artificial intelligence has become a central battleground in the escalating competition between the U.S. and China for global technological dominance. The U.S. has already implemented a series of measures, including export controls on advanced semiconductor chips and restrictions on foreign investments in AI-related technologies, to slow China's progress. These actions highlight the strategic importance of AI in shaping the future of global power dynamics. China's rapid advancements in AI, exemplified by models like DeepSeek, have heightened U.S. concerns. Policymakers fear that losing their technological edge could have far-reaching consequences, including the potential weaponization of AI systems. This rivalry reflects a broader struggle for control over emerging technologies that have the potential to redefine economic and military power on a global scale. Explore further guides and articles from our vast library that you may find relevant to your interests in Artificial Intelligence Legislation. The DeepSeek AI model, developed in China, has emerged as a focal point in the ongoing debate over the proposed legislation. Renowned for its cost-effectiveness and operational efficiency, DeepSeek is seen by some as a symbol of China's growing technological prowess. However, others view it as a potential threat to U.S. interests. Critics of Chinese-developed AI models argue that tools like DeepSeek could be misused in ways that pose significant risks. Concerns include the possibility of self-replicating AI systems or the deployment of "sleeper agent" functionalities. These fears have fueled calls for stricter regulations to mitigate potential threats. On the other hand, opponents of the bill caution that such measures could stifle innovation, hinder global collaboration, and limit the exchange of ideas that drives technological progress. One of the most contentious aspects of the proposed legislation is its potential impact on open source AI research. Open source initiatives thrive on collaboration, transparency, and the free exchange of knowledge. However, criminalizing the use of certain AI models could discourage researchers and developers from engaging in open source projects. This chilling effect could slow the pace of innovation, as developers may fear legal repercussions for working with AI models that fall under the bill's restrictions. The challenge for policymakers lies in balancing national security concerns with the benefits of open source collaboration. Striking this balance will be critical to making sure that security measures do not inadvertently hinder technological progress or isolate the U.S. from the global AI research community. The rise of advanced AI models, including self-replicating systems, has brought the issue of AI safety into sharper focus. The proposed legislation reflects growing concerns about the ethical and security risks associated with these technologies. U.S. technology companies are increasingly aligning their policies with national security priorities, emphasizing the need to mitigate risks while fostering innovation. This alignment underscores the complex relationship between technological advancement and defense strategies. While the legislation aims to address potential threats, it also highlights the challenges of regulating a rapidly evolving field where the boundaries between civilian and military applications are often blurred. The debate surrounding this legislation encapsulates a broader tension between fostering innovation and making sure national security. Proponents argue that strict measures are necessary to prevent the misuse of AI technologies and protect U.S. interests. They emphasize the importance of maintaining a technological edge in an era where AI is increasingly intertwined with economic and military power. Critics, however, warn that overly restrictive policies could stifle global scientific progress, hinder collaboration, and isolate the U.S. from international advancements in AI. This tension reflects the growing militarization of AI development, as nations grapple with the fantastic potential of this technology. Navigating these challenges will require careful consideration of both the risks and rewards associated with AI innovation. The introduction of this legislation marks a significant moment in the global AI landscape. By targeting Chinese-developed AI models like DeepSeek, the U.S. aims to assert its dominance in the AI race while addressing pressing national security concerns. However, the potential consequences for open source development, international collaboration, and individual freedoms cannot be overlooked. As the U.S. and China continue to compete for technological leadership, the challenge of balancing innovation with security will remain a defining issue. Policymakers will need to carefully weigh the benefits of fostering innovation against the imperative to safeguard national interests in an increasingly interconnected and competitive world.

If you download DeepSeek in the U.S., you could face 20 years in prison and a $100 million fine; this is what a new bill introduced in the Senate proposes to do

Under Senator Josh Hawley's proposed law, any technology or intellectual property created in China would be banned from entering the US. Anyone caught violating these rules could face harsh penalties, including up to 20 years in prison and hefty fines -- up to $1 million for individuals and $100 million for companies.A new bill introduced by Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) has sparked a major controversy, which proposes severe penalties on those who download or use Chinese AI technologies like DeepSeek in the United States, as per a report. The bill, filed last week, aims to ban US persons from advancing AI capabilities tied to China, including the rising star in AI, DeepSeek. According to Interesting Engineering report, if the bill is passed, individuals could face up to 20 years in prison and monetary penalties of up to $1 million, while companies could be hit with fines as high as $100 million for violations. Harvard AI research fellow Ben Brooks claimed that the measure stands out as "the most aggressive legislative action on AI to date," as quoted by the report. The proposed bill arrives at a time when DeepSeek's rapid rise has attracted the attention of US lawmakers, many of whom fear that the AI model's efficiency may waste billions of dollars in investments by American tech firms, reported Intresting Engineering. DeepSeek's ability to perform tasks with fewer resources than American AI models, such as ChatGPT, has raised fears about the competitive threat posed by Chinese AI advancements, particularly in areas like military and surveillance technologies, as per the report. While the bill's future is uncertain as it was tabled shortly after its introduction, its existence signals the growing urgency in Congress to address the security and economic concerns surrounding AI technologies. Lawmakers like Hawley and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) argued that taking action on AI imports and exports is necessary to protect US interests and pointed to the slow response by previous administrations, according to the Washington Post. The report quoted Hawley and Warren- "Multiple administrations have failed -- at the behest of corporate interests -- to update and enforce our export controls in a timely manner." They also said, "We cannot let that continue." The AI chip market's leader, Nvidia, is in the spotlight after its stock plummeted following the launch of DeepSeek's latest AI model, as per reports. According to Interesting Engineering report, some lawmakers argued that letting a Chinese AI tool flourish in the United States could pose the same privacy and security issues surrounding the TikTok debate. Critics argued that lawmakers are partly motivated by protecting US markets from competitive threats rather than addressing national security concerns, the report added. As lawmakers debate whether banning or restricting Chinese AI will protect US markets or escalate tensions, the bill marks a pivotal moment in the discussion about the future of AI technology in the US and its global implications. Why is there a bill targeting DeepSeek in the US? The bill aims to protect US interests and national security by restricting the use of Chinese AI models like DeepSeek, which have shown to be highly efficient and pose a competitive threat to American tech companies. Is there support for the bill or is it facing opposition? While some lawmakers, like Hawley and Elizabeth Warren, support the bill due to national security concerns, critics argue that the bill is more about protecting US markets from competition. The debate around the bill is still ongoing.

Using DeepSeek in the US? You could be fined $1 million and go to jail under proposed law

The law would also prohibit US citizens from conducting AI R&D in China, collaborating with Chinese entities, or sharing AI research with Chinese nationals. The rapid rise of Chinese ChatGPT rival DeepSeek has rattled US businesses and the administration alike. In a move to protect the country's prowess in developing Artificial Intelligence technologies and escalate trade sanctions on China, Republican Senator Josh Hawley has proposed a new law that could heavily penalize those who use any China-made AI tech, such as DeepSeek, in the US. The bill aims to "prohibit United States persons from advancing artificial intelligence capabilities within the People's Republic of China, and for other purposes." It further proposes a ban on the importation of AI tech or intellectual property from China 180 days after the enactment of the law. That means anyone using or distributing China-made AI tech could be found in violation of the proposed law. Criminal penalties include fines of up to $100 million for entities and $1 million for individuals. Meanwhile, civil penalties include three times the damages sustained by the US government. Offenders will also become ineligible for federal contracts, licenses, and financial assistance for five years. While the bill doesn't specify DeepSeek, the AI startup is already on the US government's radar as a potential security threat and a threat to US-based AI companies. As The Independent notes, President Trump has called the AI app a "wake-up call" for America, while the US Navy and NASA have banned the use of the service. Apart from a ban on importing AI tech from China, the proposed law also prohibits the export, reexport, or in-country transfer of AI technology from the US to China, an expected move given the ongoing trade tensions between the two countries. If the bill becomes law, US citizens will also be prohibited from conducting AI R&D in China, collaborating with Chinese entities, or sharing AI research with Chinese nationals tied to the Chinese government or military.

Downloading DeepSeek could lead to jail time and a $1 million fine under new US bill

Serving tech enthusiasts for over 25 years. TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust. WTF?! Would you be willing to use the App Store-topping DeepSeek if doing so were illegal, potentially landing you behind bars for 20 years and a fine up to $1 million? A senator has introduced a new bill designed to restrict Chinese AI products that would make this bizarre scenario a reality. Republican Senator from Missouri Josh Hawley's proposed legislation, the Decoupling America's Artificial Intelligence Capabilities from China Act of 2025, aims to prohibit those in the US from advancing AI capabilities within the People's Republic of China, and for other purposes. If passed, the law would impose fines of up to $100 million on US enterprises that conduct AI research with Chinese firms, invest in Chinese AI companies, collaborate with Chinese organizations on the technology, or import intellectual property or technology developed in China. They would also forfeit any license, contract, subcontract, grant, or public benefit previously awarded by federal agencies, and employees could also be fined up to $1 million. The bill also prohibits "transfer of research," which might affect researchers who make their work publicly available. The rules would apply to individuals, too, who could face penalties under section 1760 of the Export Control Reform Act of 2018. That would mean downloading AI models from China such as DeepSeek could land you a $1 million fine and 20 years in prison. US shareholders in Chinese companies engaged in AI work could also be fined and jailed. "Every dollar and gig of data that flows into Chinese AI are dollars and data that will ultimately be used against the United States," Senator Hawley said in a statement. "America cannot afford to empower our greatest adversary at the expense of our own strength. Ensuring American economic superiority means cutting China off from American ingenuity and halting the subsidization of CCP innovation." Hawley's statement specifically mentions DeepSeek, which it describes as a data-harvesting, low-cost AI model that sparked international concern and sent American technology stocks plummeting. Nvidia's value fell $600 billion, the largest one-day loss in US history, and the market went into a tailspin following DeepSeek's rise and the claims that its development costs were a fraction of those required by rival AI companies (though they were likely a lot higher than claimed). Following the launch of DeepSeek's open-source R1 model, which is said to have comparable performance to OpenAI's o1, Alibaba released its Qwen 2.5-Max model. The Chinese ecommerce giant says its product surpasses the capabilities of DeepSeek's offerings. It's unclear how the bill would be enforced, especially with DeepSeek being the top-ranking app on the US Apple App Store. The good news for DeepSeek users is that the bill was tabled last week, so it may be killed even without an outright vote against it. In January, the US Navy reminded its personnel not to use generative AI apps for work or personal use, highlighting DeepSeek due to its "potential security and ethical concerns associated with the model's origin and usage"

Bill threatens to make using DeepSeek a crime for Americans

A Republican senator wants to make downloading DeepSeek a criminal act. Credit: James Martin / CNET A proposed new law would make it illegal for Americans to download the popular Chinese AI app DeepSeek. On Monday, Sen. Josh Hawley, the Republican senator from Missouri, introduced legislation that would "prohibit the import from or export to China of artificial intelligence technology." While the announcement mentions DeepSeek, the bill called the Decoupling America's Artificial Intelligence Capabilities from China Act doesn't explicitly mention the Chinese AI company. Instead it speaks more broadly about protecting U.S. intellectual property and preventing a foreign adversary from using technology that undermines national security. "America cannot afford to empower our greatest adversary at the expense of our own strength. Ensuring American economic superiority means cutting China off from American ingenuity and halting the subsidization of CCP innovation," said Hawley in the announcement, before referencing the "international concern" triggered by the launch of DeepSeek's R1 model. In a matter of days, R1's arrival battered tech stocks and spooked the AI industry because the large language model (LLM) was reportedly made for a fraction of the cost of AI models like OpenAI's GPT-4, posing a threat to the American AI industry. OpenAI also claimed DeepSeek trained its AI off of OpenAI's data, which the internet found ironic since OpenAI is accused of doing the same thing to develop its own models. There are also DeepSeek's ethics and privacy concerns. Users have discovered instances of censorship when using R1, such as not answering questions about Tiananmen Square or evading truths about Uyghur oppression. Then there's DeepSeek's privacy policy, which says it collects extensive data from users and stores it on Chinese servers, meaning it's vulnerable to access by the Chinese government. With potential surveillance and data privacy issues in mind, the DeepSeek frenzy echoes the TikTok ban, which was put into effect for similar reasons. However, unlike the TikTok ban, Hawley's legislation seeks to penalize people for downloading DeepSeek, by making it a criminal act. If passed, the bill would enforce a $1 million fine, jail time for up to 20 years, or both, based on the Export Control Reform Act of 2018. In addition to the ban of imports and exports of Chinese AI technology, Hawley's bill also proposes the prohibition of American companies "from conducting AI research in China or in cooperation with Chinese companies," and banning U.S. companies from investing in Chinese AI companies. The language of the legislation is broad, which could be an effort to eliminate any loopholes that led to the rise of DeepSeek in the first place. Part of the reason why DeepSeek was developed so cost-efficiently was because of the U.S. restricted access to Nvidia GPUs imposed on China, forcing the company to work with chips that were possibly smuggled, less powerful, or purchased before the sanctions.

Senator Hawley Proposes Jail Time for People Who Download DeepSeek

According to the language of the proposed bill, people who download AI models from China could face up to 20 years in jail, a million dollar fine, or both. The Republican Senator from Missouri Josh Hawley has introduced a new bill that would make it illegal to import or export artificial intelligence products to and from China, meaning someone who knowingly downloads a Chinese developed AI model like the now immensely popular DeepSeek could face up to 20 years in jail, a million dollar fine, or both, should such a law pass. Kevin Bankston, a senior advisor on AI governance at the Center for Democracy & Technology, told 404 Media it is "a broad attack on the very idea of scientific dialogue and technology exchange with China around AI, with potentially ruinous penalties for AI researchers and users alike and deeply troubling implications for the future of online speech and freedom of scientific inquiry." Hawley introduced the legislation, titled the Decoupling America's Artificial Intelligence Capabilities from China Act, on Wednesday of last year. "Every dollar and gig of data that flows into Chinese AI are dollars and data that will ultimately be used against the United States," Senator Hawley said in a statement. "America cannot afford to empower our greatest adversary at the expense of our own strength. Ensuring American economic superiority means cutting China off from American ingenuity and halting the subsidization of CCP innovation." Hawley's statement explicitly says that he introduced the legislation because of the release of DeepSeek, an advanced AI model that's competitive with its American counterparts, and which its developers claimed was made for a fraction of the cost and without access to as many and as advanced of chips, though these claims are unverified. Hawley's statement called DeepSeek "a data-harvesting, low-cost AI model that sparked international concern and sent American technology stocks plummeting." Hawley's statement says the goal of the bill is to "prohibit the import from or export to China of artificial intelligence technology, "prohibit American companies from conducting AI research in China or in cooperation with Chinese companies," and "Prohibit U.S. companies from investing money in Chinese AI development." Hawley's bill and its aims were covered credulously on Fox News, but even if you think the bill's goals are worth pursuing the actual language of the bill is broad and dystopian. Unlike legislators who fearmongered about TikTok and wanted to ban it, Hawley's bill would criminalize the activity of average users, millions of whom downloaded DeepSeek recently, making it one of the most popular apps on the Apple App store. Specifically, the bill prohibits "the importation into the United States of artificial intelligence or generative artificial intelligence technology or intellectual proprietary developed or produced in the People's Republic of China." Those who violate this "Shall be subject to the criminal penalties set forth in subsection (b) of section 1760 of the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 (50 U. S.C, 4819)." That law states that "A person who willfully commits, willfully attempts to commit, or willfully conspires to commit, or aids and abets in the commission of, an unlawful act described in subsection (a) (1) shall be fined not more than $1,000,000; and (2) in the case of the individual, shall be imprisoned for not more than 20 years, or both." the Center for Democracy & Technology's Bankston told me that he's skeptical that there would be strong criminal cases against someone who unintentionally downloaded an app like DeepSeek because the legislation specifies a person's conduct must be "willful" for the imposition of criminal penalties, the bill is still "worrisomely broad." "It appears that it *could* apply to someone who downloaded DeepSeek knowing that it was from China, and yes, the criminal penalty for that under this proposal would be up to one million dollars or 20 years in prison (and also potentially civil penalties as well, which may require less proof of state of mind and may potentially even reach a mere accidental 'importer' of a Chinese model)," Bankston said. The bill, which also prohibits the "transfer of research," could create an unworkable environment for computer scientists who make their research public, and regularly read AI papers published by Chinese researchers. "Beyond just impacting people downloading models from China, the bill's penalties for the import to or export from China of AI technology and intellectual property could also potentially extend to anyone who publishes AI models or research papers on the open internet knowing they will be downloaded by people in China," Bankston said. "Researchers are also threatened by the second half of the bill, which would directly outlaw American collaboration with researchers at basically any Chinese university or company -- with a fine of up to 100 million dollars for any company that violates the prohibition, amongst other penalties." "The bill threatens the development and publishing of AI advancements in the United States, and we're particularly worried about the impact on open and collaborative development of these technologies outside the proprietary systems of the Big Tech incumbents," Kit Walsh, the Electronic Frontier Foundation's Director of AI and Access-to-Knowledge Legal Projects, told me. "In the past, the government has argued that merely publishing information on the internet counts as an export, and interpreting this law in such a way would further solidify the dominance of proprietary AI over open or academic research. The law would also interfere with efforts at AI accountability, such as transparency requirements that states and members of Congress have sought to create in order to make sure that AI isn't harming people in the United States when used for decisions about such wide-ranging things as housing, health care, and hiring." On its face, the bill seems mostly like hawkish posturing from Hawley, and the language of the bill seems unworkable given the current state of computer science, the AI industry, and the culture of researchers sharing their work. However, there is bipartisan support for legislation that targets China wherever it appears able to topple American dominance. Banning TikTok also seemed like a ludicrous notion at first given its popularity among Americans, and while the app is still live, a bill banning it did pass both the house and the Senate and was signed by the president. Hawley's office did not respond to a request for comment.

US senator calls for jail, fines for aiding Chinese AI

Americans may have to think twice about downloading a Chinese AI model or investing in a company behind such a neural network in future. A law proposed last month by Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO), if successfully passed by Congress, would impose penalties of up to 20 years in prison or $1 million in fines for violating its restrictions on AI-related trade and collaboration. And that's for individuals. US enterprises could face fines of up to $100 million if they're caught conducting AI research in the Middle Kingdom or collaborating with Chinese companies on machine learning tech, if the bill is signed into law. The proposed legislation [PDF], which we emphasize is nowhere close to becoming law, was introduced just as Silicon Valley stocks were rocked by the release of Chinese model builder DeepSeek's first reasoning model R1, which is not only said to be competitive with American AI trendsetter OpenAI, but DeepSeek claims to have achieved this feat efficiently and relatively cheaply. The release was followed by yet more models from DeepSeek and other Chinese devs, including Alibaba's new flagship Qwen 2.5-Max, which we looked at last week. The revelation that US efforts to stifle Chinese AI development through trade restrictions on accelerators hasn't sat well with members of Congress. Hawley's proposal, dubbed the Decoupling America's Artificial Intelligence Capabilities from China Act of 2025, seeks to block US persons and entities from conducting AI research in China, transferring AI-related intellectual property, or investing in Chinese AI firms - imposing stiff fines and penalties for violations. This includes prohibitions not just on the export of AI infrastructure, such as semiconductors or intellectual property, but also on the import of AI technologies and intellectual property from China - which could cover model weights, though the legislation does not explicitly state this. This may extend to downloading AI models, though how it would be enforced remains unclear. Americans found in violation of these rules would be subject to penalties as laid out under section 1760 of the Export Control Reform Act of 2018, which can include criminal penalties of up to 20 years of imprisonment and up to $1 million in fines per violation in addition to civil penalties. The bill also proposes penalties for Americans and US companies found to be transferring to or conducting AI research in China. This would include fines of up to $100 million along with the forfeit of any license, contract, subcontract, grant, or public benefit previously awarded by federal agencies. Additionally, officers and employees of companies found to be engaging in these acts would be subject to fines of up to $1 million. Even investing in Chinese firms engaged in AI development would be prohibited if the bill were signed into law, which could have major implications for American shareholders of Chinese stocks. Under the proposed bill, Americans found to hold an interest or providing financial support to Chinese entities involved in AI development would be subject to civil fines of twice the amount of the transaction or $250,000, whichever is greater, and criminal penalties of $1 million or 20 years in prison. How such a bill could actually be enforced, particularly with regard to open models, like DeepSeek R1 that are freely available for download online, isn't clear. However, all of this assumes the bill ever makes it to US President Donald Trump's desk. We've asked Senator Hawley's office for clarification, and will let you know more if we hear back. ®

US senator introduces bill that could criminalize downloading DeepSeek AI

US Senator Josh Hawley, a Republican from Missouri, introduced legislation to prohibit the import and export of artificial intelligence technology to and from China, citing national security concerns. The bill, titled the Decoupling America's Artificial Intelligence Capabilities from China Act, does not directly mention the Chinese AI company DeepSeek but aims to protect US intellectual property and prevent foreign competitors from accessing technology that could pose a security threat. If the bill becomes law, it would prohibit Americans and companies in the US from downloading DeepSeek, an AI-powered chatbot that functions similarly to OpenAI's ChatGPT. Hefty fines for individuals and companies Under the proposed bill, violations would carry severe penalties. Individuals could face fines of up to $1 million, while companies could be fined up to $100 million. In addition, violators would be forced to forfeit any "license, contract, subcontract, grant or public benefit awarded by any Federal agency." The bill also carries a punishment of up to 20 years in jail for violators. In a news release, Hawley said that every dollar and gig of data that goes into Chinese AI will be used against the US. He added: "America cannot afford to empower our greatest adversary at the expense of our own strength. Ensuring American economic superiority means cutting China off from American ingenuity and halting the subsidization of CCP innovation." If the bill becomes law, Americans would not be allowed to import or export AI tech to and from China. It would also prohibit US companies from conducting AI research in China or collaborating with Chinese companies on AI. Furthermore, it would prohibit US companies from investing in AI development in China. The rise of DeepSeek AI has ignited global data privacy concerns, with Italy banning the AI chatbot after deeming its data protection measures "insufficient." Other regulators have followed Italy's footsteps, demanding DeepSeek developers submit its data practices. While the bill says it wants to protect US interests, not everyone agrees with the approach. Ben Brooks, a fellow at Harvard's AI Research, said the bill would "kill open-source." Brooks described the bill as the "most aggressive legislative action on AI." Brooks, who also served as the head of public policy for Stability AI, said that the bill would set back US research and decouple the rest of the world from the US. Andy Ayrey, the AI chatbot Truth Terminal creator, expressed similar sentiments. Ayrey said the bill would "slow Western progress in AI" more than hurt competitors. "Far better to open source model weights and data sets with prosocial, cooperative and democratic values that will naturally worm their way into international models," Ayrey wrote.

New Law Would Make It Illegal to Use DeepSeek, Punishable With 20 Years' Prison Time

US senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) has introduced a bill that could effectively make it illegal to use DeepSeek, a new ChatGPT competitor that made huge waves last week, within the United States. Hawley's bill, introduced last week, looks to "prohibit United States persons from advancing artificial intelligence capabilities within the People's Republic of China, and for other purposes." The bill, described by Harvard AI research fellow Ben Brooks as "easily the most aggressive legislative action on AI," could land anybody importing "technology or intellectual property" developed in China in prison for 20 years, with fines up to $1 million for individuals and $100 million for companies. Needless to say, that's all pretty extreme, which may doom the bill: it was tabled last week, which in practice often means a proposed new law has lost legislative steam. Nonetheless, the bill shows that there's considerable panic among lawmakers following DeepSeek's astronomical rise and the enormous selloff it triggered last week. Congress is now desperately looking to shut China out to preserve US market interests, with lawmakers as disparate as Hawley and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) arguing that the Biden administration didn't act fast enough before implementing a ban on AI chip exports to China starting in 2022. "Multiple administrations have failed -- at the behest of corporate interests -- to update and enforce our export controls in a timely manner," Hawley and Warren wrote in an appeal to Congress obtained by The Washington Post. "We cannot let that continue." Earlier this month, DeepSeek demonstrated that the performance of OpenAI's top-of-the-line AI chatbots can be matched while using a tiny fraction of the resources, stoking fears that Wall Street may be massively overpaying. Lawmakers believe Chinese AI could pose a major threat to national security, while US companies are still reeling from the sudden emergence of steep competition that wiped out more than $1 trillion in market value. Hawley and Warren are among a growing number of lawmakers looking for greater export controls against China, limiting Chinese companies' access to key AI chips from the likes of US chipmaker Nvidia. The California-based company's CEO Jensen Huang met with president Donald Trump on Friday, just days after Nvidia broke its own record for the biggest single-day loss of any company in history. What exactly came from that meeting remains unknown, beyond a spokesperson telling Reuters that "Jensen and the President discussed the importance of strengthening US technology and AI leadership." "I can't say what's gonna happen," Trump told reporters. "We had a meeting. It was a good meeting." Whether there's enough appetite to outright make it illegal for Americans to even use DeepSeek seems unlikely, considering the constant back and forth on the still-unfolding TikTok ban -- which stemmed from national security concerns, was passed by Congress last year, but remains in limbo thanks to Trump's newfound opposition to the ban, which he originally supported. Would DeepSeek's AI chatbot pose those same risks -- or are lawmakers simply looking out for US market interests? Some, after all, are personally invested in the debacle.

Congress Might Ban DeepSeek

A strict new bill could land DeepSeek users in prison for 20 years just for using the app. Well, here we go again. With TikTok's future in the United States still uncertain, parts of Congress are already moving toward banning DeepSeek, a Chinese ChatGPT competitor that quickly usurped ChatGPT on the App Store last week. A new bill introduced by Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri would "prohibit United States persons from advancing artificial intelligence capabilities within the People's Republic of China." In other words, it would effectively ban DeepSeek, despite not mentioning the AI chatbot by name. Under the bill, anyone convicted of "the import from or export to China of artificial intelligence technology" could be sentenced with up to 20 years in prison, plus an up-to-$1 million fine for individuals and an up-to-$10 million fine for businesses. Are you likely to be punished for using DeepSeek as a private citizen? Well, the bill does leave room open for it, so practice caution if it does become law. More realistically, much like with piracy laws, this is probably aimed at distributors and developers, so if it goes through, expect to see DeepSeek and other Chinese AI leave the App Store. The bill is also likely so broadly worded as a result of DeepSeek's open-source nature, as it's currently easy for developers to simply download its models and incorporate them into their apps. The legislation would seek to curb such a practice, although it would also put future international collaboration, even the reading of Chinese research papers about AI, in jeopardy. In a statement, Senator Hawley said "Every dollar and gig of data that flows into Chinese AI are dollars and data that will ultimately be used against the United States." Senator Hawley isn't the first to express concern about DeepSeek. The AI has already been banned for use in the Navy due to "potential security and ethical concerns," as well as on Texan government devices. OpenAI also toldTthe Financial Times that it has evidence that DeepSeek might have been built on the back of OpenAI models, which while a common practice in AI development, goes against OpenAI's terms of service once the resulting models are distributed. There's also already been a high profile data leak, and DeepSeek's terms of use involve agreeing to having your keystrokes collected. At the same time, the strict language of the law does have experts worried about the future of AI development and oversight, as it could kneecap collaboration and AI transparency. The Electronic Frontier Foundation's Director of AI and Access-to-Knowledge Legal Projects, Kit Walsh, told 404 Media that "The bill threatens the development and publishing of AI advancements in the United States...the government has argued that merely publishing information on the internet counts as an export, and interpreting this law in such a way would further solidify the dominance of proprietary AI over open or academic research." In other words, American tech companies would be incentivized to be even more insular about how their AI works, which could affect far more than Chinese competitors.

US to criminalize DeepSeek download, up to 20 years prison, $100M fine

Senator Hawley's latest legislative move could impose fines up to $100 million and 20 years in prison for Americans who use DeepSeek A newly introduced bill from Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) is drawing attention for its unprecedented severity in restricting Chinese artificial intelligence (AI), specifically targeting technologies like DeepSeek. The bill, which Hawley filed last week, intends to "prohibit United States persons from advancing artificial intelligence capabilities within the People's Republic of China, and for other purposes." Analysts say the proposed legislation, if passed, could effectively outlaw the use of DeepSeek, the emerging Chinese AI competitor, within the United States.