DHS Orders Federal Civilian Agencies to Rip Out DeepSeek AI, Citing Risk of Data Flowing to China

WASHINGTON, Oct. 20 (TodayViralUSA) — The Department of Homeland Security has ordered federal civilian agencies to remove technology from Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek from their computer systems and to stop buying its products, citing the risk that sensitive government data could end up in China.

The order, signed in July and published in the Federal Register on Tuesday, covers products made by Hangzhou DeepSeek Artificial Intelligence Co. and its affiliates, as well as third-party products and services built using DeepSeek’s models. It applies to civilian departments such as Treasury, State and Justice but not the Department of Defense, CNBC reported.

‘Multiple threat vectors’

DHS said DeepSeek’s AI models “present multiple threat vectors,” pointing to the possibility that Chinese authorities could access the company’s infrastructure, collect personal information and track users. The department warned that government data processed through the models could be transferred to China, potentially giving Beijing intelligence on Americans and federal programs.

The order also raises concerns about malware and other security flaws, citing a February 2025 analysis by mobile security firm NowSecure that found unencrypted data transmissions, weak encryption and insecure data storage in DeepSeek’s iOS app, BleepingComputer reported.

Exceptions possible, but not for consumers

Agencies must immediately drop DeepSeek products from procurement lists and remove them from their networks, or apply for an exception. Exception requests must be submitted within 60 days of the order’s issuance with a justification and proposed safeguards, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency will review them. The order does not restrict private or consumer use of DeepSeek.

The move, issued under the Federal Acquisition Supply Chain Security Act of 2018, formalizes a patchwork of earlier restrictions. The Defense Information Systems Agency moved to block DeepSeek in January 2025, Commerce Department bureaus barred it on government devices that March, and Congress restricted its use in intelligence community systems last December, according to CNBC.