DeepSeek: The Rising Star or a National Security Threat?

DeepSeek, which was relatively obscure just weeks ago, has quickly become a sensation in the tech arena, earning worldwide recognition for its impressive capabilities while igniting discussions similar to the controversies surrounding TikTok.

This rapid ascension is partly due to its unique business model: Unlike many American tech giants, such as OpenAI and Google, DeepSeek provides its advanced features at no charge. However, this has raised significant concerns regarding its extensive data collection methods, prompting investigations by Microsoft and OpenAI into a potential breach of the latter’s system, allegedly tied to the Chinese AI firm.

A Threat to U.S. AI Supremacy

DeepSeek’s remarkable functionalities have quickly established it as a formidable opponent to leading U.S. AI entities like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini. However, with this rapid advancement comes alarm regarding its purported connections to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Security analysts have uncovered hidden code in DeepSeek’s framework that purportedly transmits user data to China Mobile, a state-run telecommunications corporation that is banned in the U.S. Their privacy policy explicitly allows for the gathering of data including IP addresses, device specifications, and, alarmingly, user keystroke patterns.

Just fyi, @deepseek_ai collects your IP, keystroke patterns, device info, etc., and stores it in China, where all that data is at risk of seizure by the 🇨🇳 State. pic.twitter.com/wueJokHcn3

These revelations have spurred bipartisan initiatives in U.S. Congress to mitigate DeepSeek’s influence, with lawmakers urgency to protect sensitive information from potential oversight by the CCP. Representatives Darin LaHood (R-IL) and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) are at the forefront of efforts to pass legislation banning DeepSeek’s installation on all government-issued devices.

DeepSeek is collecting the sensitive data of American citizens and sending it directly to the Chinese Communist Party—a national security threat. That’s why I’m introducing bipartisan legislation to immediately ban DeepSeek from all US gov devices. https://t.co/bNlGZogu4O

Numerous federal agencies, including NASA and the U.S. Navy, have proactively banned DeepSeek, and the state of Texas has also taken steps to restrict its usage.

Are We Experiencing a TikTok Repeat with DeepSeek?

The debate surrounding DeepSeek closely mirrors the public discourse surrounding TikTok, the short video app owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, which has faced accusations of making user data accessible to the CCP, albeit without definitive proof. Meanwhile, the situation with DeepSeek is characterized by discernible evidence unveiled by cybersecurity experts about unauthorized data transmissions.

Some observers may liken DeepSeek’s predicament to the ongoing TikTok situation; however, many security professionals argue that the threat is more pronounced and well-documented in DeepSeek’s case. This situation has not gone unnoticed globally, as government entities in several countries, including Australia, South Korea, and Italy, have already moved to ban DeepSeek from their operational systems.

AI: A New Geopolitical Battleground

The apprehensions surrounding DeepSeek serve to highlight the emerging reality that artificial intelligence has become a geopolitical battleground, particularly between superpowers such as the U.S. and China. While American AI companies like OpenAI have maintained a position of dominance in recent times, Chinese enterprises are striving to catch up and, in certain instances, surpass their U.S. counterparts.

DeepSeek’s swift expansion threatens to upset this equilibrium, primarily not just due to its advanced AI models but also because its pricing model offers the application for free. This raises an important question: Is it genuinely “free,” or is the cost hidden in compromised privacy and security?

The involvement of China Mobile intensifies the scrutiny, given that this state-owned telecom previously faced sanctions that rendered it unwelcome in the U.S. market. Critics fear that the data harvested through platforms like DeepSeek could bolster Chinese surveillance operations or potentially fuel economic manipulation.

The Prospective Nationwide Ban of DeepSeek

If the proposed legislation in the U.S. gains approval, it may pave the way for widespread restrictions or even a complete ban on DeepSeek. The ongoing geopolitical tensions between China and Western nations are shaping regulatory frameworks in cutting-edge technology, with AI emerging as a central battlefield in this enduring conflict.

As discussions around regulating applications like DeepSeek gain momentum, the urgency surrounding topics of data privacy, national security, and the ethical implications of AI development cannot be overstated. As individuals and organizations contend with the promises and perils of these next-generation technologies, the discourse will only intensify.

DeepSeek’s rapid rise may have unsettled the AI landscape, but its ability to sustain growth amid escalating global backlash remains highly uncertain.