1 Million Dollars Fine with Prison Time: New US Laws Target DeepSeek Users

Frederick Nyame

February 5, 2025

A new law could punish people in the U.S. for using the Chinese AI app DeepSeek. This new law comes with severe punishment for those who are found guilty of using AI chat bots from China.

What the Law Says

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., asks questions during a Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee hearing to discuss election security and the 2020 election process on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Greg Nash/Pool via AP)

Senator Josh Hawley introduced a bill to stop U.S. people and businesses from helping China’s AI development. It also bans AI technology from China in the U.S.

If the bill becomes law, anyone who breaks it could face:

Up to 20 years in jail and a $1 million fine for individuals.
Up to $100 million in fines for businesses.

Why This Law Matters

The bill does not name DeepSeek, but it comes just a week after the app became the most downloaded AI app in the U.S. Its sudden success caused U.S. tech stocks to fall.

Many people worry about privacy, security, and censorship. DeepSeek refuses to answer political questions about China. This raises concerns that the Chinese government controls the app. Some believe DeepSeek could be used to spread Chinese influence and gather user data.

Government Actions Against DeepSeek

The U.S. government is already taking steps to limit DeepSeek’s use:

Join GizChina on Telegram

Former President Donald Trump called it a “wake-up call” for the U.S. tech industry.
The U.S. Navy banned it on both work and personal devices.
NASA blocked DeepSeek from government-issued devices.
Texas became the first U.S. state to ban DeepSeek on all state-owned devices.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott said:

“Texas will not let the Chinese Communist Party take control of our state’s data.”

Other states are now considering similar bans.

Experts Warn of Risks

Security experts say DeepSeek could be more dangerous than TikTok. The biggest concern is that all user data is stored in China, making it easier for the Chinese government to access. Experts warn about the following risks:

Loss of privacy – User data could be collected without consent.
Security threats – Data could be used for hacking or cyber-attacks.
Censorship – The app could hide certain topics and spread propaganda.

Read Also: Huawei Chips Are Driving DeepSeek AI’s Success

Bill Conner, a cybersecurity expert, warned:

“DeepSeek runs on Chinese servers, which creates serious privacy and security risks.”

The U.S. government is watching DeepSeek closely. If concerns grow, more states or even the federal government may take action.

Disclaimer: We may be compensated by some of the companies whose products we talk about, but our articles and reviews are always our honest opinions. For more details, you can check out our editorial guidelines and learn about how we use affiliate links.

Source/VIA :

Independent