US Commerce Department bureaus prohibit China's DeepSeek on government devices, sources report.

U.S. Commerce Department bureaus recently informed staff that the Chinese AI model DeepSeek is prohibited on government-issued devices, according to a message seen by Reuters and two sources familiar with the matter.  

A mass email to employees stated that to protect the Department of Commerce's information systems, access to DeepSeek is strictly restricted on all government-furnished equipment (GFE). Employees were instructed not to download, access, or interact with any applications, desktop programs, or websites related to DeepSeek.  

The Commerce Department has not yet responded to requests for comment, and the extent of the ban across the U.S. government remains unclear.  

DeepSeek’s low-cost AI models previously triggered a major selloff in global equity markets in January, as investors feared it could challenge the U.S.'s dominance in AI technology. U.S. officials and lawmakers have raised concerns over DeepSeek’s potential risks to data privacy and national security.  

In February, Congressmen Josh Gottheimer and Darin LaHood, members of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, introduced legislation to ban DeepSeek on government devices. Earlier this month, they urged U.S. governors to implement similar bans, warning that using DeepSeek could expose sensitive government data—including contracts, financial records, and proprietary documents—to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).  

Several states, including Virginia, Texas, and New York, have already prohibited the AI model on government devices. Additionally, 21 state attorneys general have called on Congress to enact legislation to enforce the ban nationwide.