Symbolic imageUS bans DeepSeek in civilian agencies as China threatens countermeasures
The US Department of Homeland Security ordered civilian agencies to remove DeepSeek AI tools. Beijing protested and, according to Global Times, warned of countermeasures.
The notice, issued on Monday, 19 October, covers DeepSeek products and third-party tools built on its models, which must be removed from IT devices. The department says use of the tools "may result in the transfer of sensitive data" to China, whose legal system gives the government "extensive authority" over private company infrastructure. It can direct civilian agencies but not the military or intelligence services. Washington accuses DeepSeek and other Chinese AI firms of systematically stealing capabilities of US models.
Beijing objects
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Tuesday that China opposes the "overstretching of the concept of national security" and the politicisation of science, technology and trade. The ministry vowed to safeguard the legitimate rights of Chinese businesses.
Sanctions on five firms
Global Times headlines say China urged the US to lift sanctions on five Chinese firms and warned of countermeasures. Bloomberg's headline reports a US sanction on a firm it calls China's Y Combinator, in a case over Google AI secrets.
Summit in view
Xi Jinping and Donald Trump agreed in September to set up a communication channel for AI incidents. The topic is expected to return at their summit in Shenzhen in November.
Other opinions
Global Times, a Chinese state-affiliated outlet, calls the US move futile in an editorial headline ("Washington issues penalty tickets in vain while staring at DeepSeek's taillights"), while the Guardian foregrounds DHS's data-security rationale.