China Criticizes US Ban on DeepSeek Over Data Security Concerns
China accused the United States of politicizing technology after federal civilian agencies were ordered to remove DeepSeek products from their systems. The…
China slams ban DeepSeek after the United States ordered federal civilian agencies to remove the Chinese AI startup’s products, citing concerns that sensitive data could be exposed to Chinese authorities. The Department of Homeland Security’s directive also covers third-party tools developed using DeepSeek models.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning accused Washington of politicizing technology on Tuesday. The order was issued in July and made public in a notice published Monday in the Federal Register, according to Fox News.
China slams ban DeepSeek as data concerns drive US order
The Department of Homeland Security said DeepSeek products and services must be removed from agency systems and barred future purchases. The restriction applies to civilian agencies; the Guardian reported that the department cannot issue the same direction to the military or intelligence services.
A document attached to the notice said DeepSeek’s models “present multiple threat vectors.” The department warned that use by government employees or vendors “may result in the transfer of sensitive data to [China]”. It also said the company’s servers are located in China, where authorities have extensive legal powers to access private company infrastructure.
Those are the US government’s stated grounds for the restriction, not a finding described in the reports that data had already been transferred. DeepSeek had not immediately responded to requests for comment cited by Fox News and the Guardian.
The practical effect is that federal civilian agencies must remove both DeepSeek’s own products and third-party tools built with its models. That broad scope means the order is not limited to staff directly opening a DeepSeek chatbot; it also reaches services incorporating the startup’s AI technology, as described in the DHS notice.
Beijing says Washington is politicizing technology
Mao said China opposed what she called an excessive use of national security arguments to restrict technology and trade. “China consistently opposes the overstretching of the concept of national security and the politicizing of science, technology, economic and trade issues,” she told reporters, according to Fox News.
She added that Beijing would “resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies.” The response frames the dispute as a question of fair treatment for Chinese firms, while Washington’s notice focuses on potential data exposure and national security.
The disagreement comes as the two governments compete in artificial intelligence. The Guardian reported that DeepSeek drew attention in January 2025 with a chatbot described as low-cost and high-performance. The company later released a model called V4 in April and updated a faster, lighter version in October, according to the report.
Fox News said AI is expected to feature at a planned November meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The Guardian reported that the meeting is scheduled for a summit in Shenzhen.
For agencies affected by the directive, the immediate change is operational: they must remove covered tools and stop future purchases. The order also raises a broader question for organizations that use third-party software incorporating DeepSeek models, although the reports do not detail how individual vendors will identify or remove those components.
Beijing’s public response has been forceful, but the sources do not report any announced Chinese countermeasure tied to this specific ban. Mao’s stated position was that China would “resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies.”
Source: foxnews.com