# US bans use of China's DeepSeek AI tools by government agencies

DevFeed: [US bans use of China's DeepSeek AI tools by government agencies](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/us-bans-use-of-china-s-deepseek-ai-tools-by-government-agencies-90951.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/20/us-bans-china-deepseek-ai-tools-government-agencies>)

Author: Agence France-Presse

Published: 2026-10-20T12:33:27Z

Content type: news

Language: en

Sources: [The Guardian | Technology](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/the-guardian-technology.md>)

Topics: [ai-governance](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/ai-governance.md>), [ai security](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/ai-security.md>), [Artificial Intelligence](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/ai.md>), [Tool](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/tool.md>)

Tags: [2025](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/2025.md>), [ai](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/ai.md>), [ai-artificial-intelligence](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/ai-artificial-intelligence.md>), [ai-labs](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/ai-labs.md>), [ai-tools](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/ai-tools.md>), [ban](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/ban.md>), [chatbot](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/chatbot.md>), [china](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/china.md>), [data](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/data.md>), [deepseek](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/deepseek.md>), [defense](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/defense.md>), [department-of-homeland-security](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/department-of-homeland-security.md>), [devices](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/devices.md>), [dhs](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/dhs.md>), [government](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/government.md>), [it](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/it.md>), [products](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/products.md>), [sensitive-data](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/sensitive-data.md>), [startup](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/startup.md>), [third-parties](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/third-parties.md>), [trump-administration](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/trump-administration.md>), [trump-administration-deepseek-us-politics-ai-artificial-intelligence-us-news-china](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/trump-administration-deepseek-us-politics-ai-artificial-intelligence-us-news-china.md>), [us-government](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/us-government.md>), [us-news](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/us-news.md>), [us-politics](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/us-politics.md>)

## AI overview

The DHS ordered civilian agencies to stop using DeepSeek products and third-party tools created with DeepSeek, and to remove them from IT devices. An attached document warned that use by government employees or vendors may transfer sensitive data to China; it cited DeepSeek's China-based servers and the government's authority to access private company infrastructure. The notice applies to civilian agencies, while DHS cannot direct the military or intelligence services. The excerpt does not specify implementation deadlines or enforcement measures.

## Source excerpt

Use of tools 'may result in the transfer of sensitive data' to China, defense department says The US government on Monday ordered its agencies to stop using artificial intelligence (AI) tools from the Chinese startup DeepSeek, as the countries race for dominance in the fast-moving sector. A notice from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the ban on products developed by DeepSeek - and tools created using DeepSeek by third parties - saying they must be removed from IT devices. Continue reading...