US Federal Agencies Ban Chinese AI Platform DeepSeek Over Security Concerns

China's DeepSeek AI Faces First US Ban After Navy Email Tells Members To Stop Using It

In a striking but unsurprising move, the United States Navy has banned the use of China's DeepSeek AI platform on its vessels. DeepSeek took the AI world by storm this month after it demonstrated performance similar to leading models by OpenAI and other American firms. However, the model's true shock came after NVIDIA and other data center stocks led a multi-billion dollar stock market wipeout yesterday over investor concerns about overblown AI training costs. The Navy's ban was first reported by CNBC, which confirmed its authenticity through a spokesperson for the armed forces branch. According to CNBC, the Navy sent its directives surrounding DeepSeek to sailors and other servicemembers through an email. This email warned them about the origins of the AI model and pointed at the security and ethical concerns surrounding its use. Chinese origin software applications have been a hot topic for more than a year now after TikTok's ban over concerns of China accessing the data of more than 170 million Americans. The security implications of models like DeepSeek can be similar, if not worse. For the military, members might ask queries from the chatbot to help them with their daily tasks or daily lives. These queries, if accessed by malevolent entities, could compromise national security--a concern that hasn't evaded the Navy's attention. Its email notes that "potential security and ethical concerns associated with the model's origin and usage" merit a complete ban over its use by servicemembers either for "work-related tasks or personal use." The email goes on to ask recipients to "refrain from downloading, installing, or using the DeepSeek model in any capacity." The Navy's email mentions a "new AI model called DeepSeek" cannot be used. The firm that develops AI models is called DeepSeek, while its models, such as the latest iteration, are named DeepSeek-V3, DeepSeek-R1 and so on. As per CNBC, the email was sent on Friday, or before the massive stock market selloff yesterday that shook investors and tech executives alike. CNBC adds that the message was sent through the Navy's Naval Air Warcraft Center Division Cyber Workforce Manger and via an operational distribution list which covers most, if not all, of the branch's members. Chinese applications such as TikTok have not only raised national security concerns with respect to data gathering but also through videos shared by military members. The Pentagon took a striking step in 2023 to ban TikTok across all DOD-connected devices, which included private contractors. The move came four years after the three armed services branches had banned the application on official devices after the Pentagon labeled it as a national security risk. The tri-service ban came months after Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Tom Cotton (R-AK) had requested an intelligence evaluation of the implications of its use to national security. This, and similar scrutiny, led Congress to require TikTok to find a buyer or be shut down in the US through the Protecting Americans from Foreign Controlled Applications (PAFCA) Act, which was passed in 2024. A Navy spokesperson confirmed the email to CNBC and added that it followed the branch's AI policy. White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, confirmed earlier today that the National Security Council was reviewing DeepSeek's national security implications. Her remarks came after President Trump took struck an optimistic note and stated that DeepSeek "should be a wake-up call for" American companies.

The US Navy Issued A Warning Email To "Shipmates," Advising Them Not To Use DeepSeek's AI In Any Capacity Due To "Security And Ethical Concerns"

DeepSeek's meteoric popularity in the AI industry has garnered a handful of concerns related to privacy and security, which is causing authorities to take action. DeepSeek has managed to secure the number one spot on the App Store in various regions, including the United States, which is alarming for the competition in the region. It is now being reported that the US Navy has banned the use of DeepSeek's new AI models due to privacy and ethical concerns. We recently reported that the Pentagon used the DeepSeek chatbot for at least two days before it was removed from the server. The US authorities are concerned about the privacy and security of users, and the officials are pushing them to ban the service altogether. The app has also been removed from the App Store due to the same reasons and it remains to be seen how the platform will continue to exist in the region. DeepSeek's R1 model has surpassed OpenAI's o1 model when it comes to reasoning tasks, which is a feat on its own, but the fact that the company was able to make it happen for only $5.6 million is mind-boggling. CNBC has now reported that the US Navy has sent a warning through email to its "shipmates" to not use DeepSeek's AI platform "in any capacity." It also cited "potential security and ethical concerns," which have been the reason why it was banned from the Pentagon. The email regarding the Department of the Navy's Chief Information Officer's generative AI policy was sent to relevant personnel on Friday. A portion of the email reads: "We would like to bring to your attention a critical update regarding a new AI model called DeepSeek." According to the report, members of the US Navy should refrain from using the DeepSeek AI platform for any reason at all. It is also off-limits to download and install the new DeepSeek app as part of the policy and the ban. It makes sense to block or ban the app, considering the relationship between the two countries and the amount of data it collects. The app's privacy policy suggests that it basically collects all kinds of data, and it could include some data that users would not like to share. OpenAI has been working on new AI models which will potentially beat the likes of DeepSeek and Alibaba's Qwen 2.5 AI model. but there are no concrete details available on how it will perform. We will keep you posted on the details, so do stick around.

US Navy bans use of DeepSeek over national security concerns

The US Navy has instructed its members against using Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) platform DeepSeek due to national and ethical concerns. The Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) startup DeepSeek became famous overnight due to its cost-effective models, which startled industry insiders, unnerved investors, and wowed competitors. Even the US President Donald Trump commented on DeepSeek's breakthrough, describing it as a "positive thing." Its impact triggered Monday's trillion-dollar global market sell-off, with AI-related companies emerging as some of its largest losers.

NASA becomes latest federal agency to block China's DeepSeek on 'security and privacy concerns'

The memo said DeepSeek's servers "operate outside of the United States, raising national security and privacy concerns." NASA is the latest federal agency to ban use of China's DeepSeek AI technology by employees and block access to the platform from its systems, CNBC has learned. In a memo on Friday to all NASA personnel from the agency's chief artificial intelligence officer, employees were informed that DeepSeek's servers "operate outside of the United States, raising national security and privacy concerns." "DeepSeek and its products and services are not authorized for use with NASA's data and information or on government-issued devices and networks," the memo said. NASA didn't immediately provide a comment. DeepSeek's free-to-download AI assistant is now available in the U.S., rivaling products like OpenAI's ChatGPT, and Google Gemini. DeepSeek's app rocketed to the top of Apple's App Store at the start of the week, unseating OpenAI's ChatGPT from the lead spot. DeepSeek was still No. 1 on Friday. As of Jan. 31, NASA personnel are not permitted to use DeepSeek to "share or upload agency data on DeepSeek products or services," and are "not authorized to "access DeepSeek via NASA devices and agency-managed network connections." And NASA's Security Operations Center has now blocked use of DeepSeek on "agency-managed devices and networks," the memo said. Late last week, The U.S. Navy instructed its members to avoid using DeepSeek. In a warning issued by email, the Navy said DeepSeek's AI was not to be used "in any capacity" due to "potential security and ethical concerns associated with the model's origin and usage." Axios reported on Thursday that U.S. congressional offices were being told that use of DeepSeek was "unauthorized for official House use," citing a notice from the House's chief administrative officer.