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Saturday, Feb 01, 2025
Outside the box.
US Congress Prohibits Use of DeepSeek AI Chatbot on Official Devices
Security concerns prompt ban on Chinese-developed AI application in congressional offices
The Chief Administrative Officer of the U.S. House of Representatives has issued a directive prohibiting congressional staff from installing or using the DeepSeek AI chatbot on official devices.
This decision arises from security concerns associated with the Chinese-developed application.
The directive highlights that DeepSeek is currently under review and is not authorized for official House use.
It cites risks related to the potential exploitation of the chatbot by threat actors to deliver malicious software and compromise devices.
In response, security measures have been implemented to restrict DeepSeek's functionality on all House-issued devices, including phones, computers, and tablets.
This action follows previous restrictions by the Chief Administrative Officer on AI products; in 2023, limits were placed on the use of ChatGPT, permitting only the paid version for specific tasks.
Similarly, in April of the same year, staffers were barred from using Microsoft Copilot, pending the development of government-oriented tools by the company.
The move to restrict DeepSeek underscores the ongoing challenges Congress faces in navigating the complexities of AI technology while ensuring the security and integrity of its systems.
This decision arises from security concerns associated with the Chinese-developed application.
The directive highlights that DeepSeek is currently under review and is not authorized for official House use.
It cites risks related to the potential exploitation of the chatbot by threat actors to deliver malicious software and compromise devices.
In response, security measures have been implemented to restrict DeepSeek's functionality on all House-issued devices, including phones, computers, and tablets.
This action follows previous restrictions by the Chief Administrative Officer on AI products; in 2023, limits were placed on the use of ChatGPT, permitting only the paid version for specific tasks.
Similarly, in April of the same year, staffers were barred from using Microsoft Copilot, pending the development of government-oriented tools by the company.
The move to restrict DeepSeek underscores the ongoing challenges Congress faces in navigating the complexities of AI technology while ensuring the security and integrity of its systems.
