The proposed legislation aims to prohibit US individuals from advancing AI capabilities within China, echoing similar concerns that led to the ban on TikTok.

If the bill is enacted, individuals found using DeepSeek could face fines of up to $1 million and possible imprisonment for up to 20 years. Businesses that utilise the chatbot may face fines reaching $100 million.

The bill, introduced by Republican Senator Josh Hawley, “raises alarms regarding data security and the potential transfer of American users’ information to the Chinese government.”

Hawley has cited concerns about the “security, privacy, and ethics” of the DeepSeek AI application.

The US would not be the first country to impose a ban on DeepSeek; Italy has already prohibited its use for privacy reasons, and Texas has enacted a similar ban.

Other countries, including Taiwan and Australia, are also considering restrictions.

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DeepSeek, which gained attention following the release of its latest R1 model in January 2025, has been noted for its cost-effective performance compared to competitors like ChatGPT.

Founded in May 2023 by Liang Wenfeng, DeepSeek is designed to improve efficiency while minimizing resource usage.