• News
    • Tech News
    • AI
  • Gadgets
    • Apple
    • iPhone
  • Gaming
    • Playstation
    • Xbox
  • Science
    • News
    • Space
  • Streaming
    • Netflix
  • Vehicles
    • Car News
  • Social Media
    • WhatsApp
    • YouTube
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
TikTok
Snapchat
WhatsApp
Submit Your Content
DeepSeek users threatened with $1,000,000 fine and prison time under new US law

Home> News

Published 11:16 6 Feb 2025 GMT

DeepSeek users threatened with $1,000,000 fine and prison time under new US law

Anyone caught violating the restrictions could face up to 20 years in prison

Rebekah Jordan

Rebekah Jordan

Users of Chinese chatbot DeepSeek could soon face heavy fines or even prison time under a new US law.

Introduced by Republican Senator Josh Hawley, the new bill aims to “prohibit United States persons from advancing artificial intelligence capabilities within the People’s Republic of China, and for other persons”.

The proposed law would also ban the importation of “technology or intellectual property” developed in China.

If the law passes, anyone found violating the restrictions could be fined up to $1 million or face up to 20 years in prison. Meanwhile, businesses could face penalties of up to $100 million.

Advert

Although the bill doesn't specify DeepSeek by name, it coincidentally comes just a week after the Chinese chatbot became

the most downloaded free app in the US.

Despite the growing concerns about the AI's security, privacy, and ethicality - including DeepSeek’s inability to answer questions about the Chinese Communist Party - US tech stocks took a major hit.

Justin Sullivan / Staff / Getty
Justin Sullivan / Staff / Getty

Advert

US President Donald Trump described the Chinese app as a 'wake-up call' for the American tech industry. However, he dismissed any worries, stating that the US will 'remain a dominant player in the field,' according to a BBC report. Meanwhile, the White House is currently reviewing DeepSeek’s potential national security risks.

The United States Navy has already taken action against the technology by banning its members from using it for both work and personal use.

Similarly, NASA has forbidden the use of the AI from government-issued devices and networks.

Several US states are also considering bans, with Texas becoming the first to block it on government devices.

Advert

“Texas will not allow the Chinese Communist Party to infiltrate our state's critical infrastructure through data-harvesting AI and social media apps,” said Texas Governor Greg Abbott. “Texas will continue to protect and defend our state from hostile foreign actors.”

Anna Moneymaker / Staff / Getty
Anna Moneymaker / Staff / Getty

Over on Reddit, some people are questioning the US government’s motives and extreme measures being taken.

"Am I the only one who thinks this is surreal?" one social media user wrote.

Advert

"Competition is illegal," another added whilst someone else commented: "They want to protect gpt at all costs".

Cybersecurity experts are warning that DeepSeek may pose a bigger threat to businesses and governments than TikTok, as the chatbot stores data on servers in China.

“DeepSeek represents a clear risk for any enterprise whose leadership values data privacy, security and transparency,” said Bill Conner, CEO of automation firm Jitterbit and former security advisor to the US government.

“As stated in their own privacy policy, DeepSeek is a shared cloud service run in China with data being stored in China – potentially introducing unknown risks to data privacy, compliance mandates and security controls.”

Featured Image Credit: GREG BAKER / Contributor / Getty
China
Social Media
Cybersecurity

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

3 hours ago
5 hours ago
7 hours ago
  • 3 hours ago

    Sam Altman could be hitting Google with the biggest threat it's faced in a decade

    OpenAI has revealed a new major project

    News
  • 5 hours ago

    Users predict an 'apocalypse for websites' amid fears Google is about to 'destroy the web'

    The internet as we know it could be gone soon

    News
  • 5 hours ago

    McDonald's AI hiring bot exposes data of 64,000,000 applicants after hackers guess 'stupid' password

    The fast food giant isn't lovin' it

    News
  • 7 hours ago

    ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman shares eerie reality of what actually happens when you search with AI

    Some people are making sure they are polite to their AI chatbot

    News
  • Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey makes worrying admission about new messaging app
  • Grimes hits out at ex Elon Musk's X calling it 'poison' and 'a prison' in scathing new statement
  • Elon Musk says Steve Bannon is ‘going back to prison’ for a ‘long time’ in ominous tweet
  • TikTok returns to 170,000,000 US users as Trump promises long-term solution