U.S. Tells Federal Agencies to Stop Using DeepSeek; China Calls Move Abuse of Power

DHS said use of the technology by U.S. government employees or contractors could lead to sensitive data being transmitted to China, according to the report. Before the directive, the U.S. Commerce Department, the Navy and the state governments of New York, Tennessee and Virginia had restricted the use of DeepSeek on government devices.

China’s Commerce Ministry spokesperson said on Oct. 20 that China was “strongly dissatisfied and firmly opposed” to the move, calling it “a typical act of overstretching the concept of national security and abusing administrative means to suppress Chinese enterprises,” according to Shaoshupai. The spokesperson urged the United States to withdraw the discriminatory restrictions and said China would “take all necessary measures” in response to any action that substantively harms Chinese interests.

The DHS notice did not specify a completion deadline for removing DeepSeek-related products, according to the report. It also did not say whether the directive would extend beyond federal civilian agencies to state governments or private contractors.