DeepSeek, which released its first app earlier this month, is not allowed to be downloaded on House devices including computers, phones and tablets.
U.S. House offices have been told to avoid using Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) software DeepSeek, according to a notice to staffers obtained by The Epoch Times.
“Threat actors are already exploiting DeepSeek to deliver malicious software and infect devices,” the chief administrative officer (CAO) of the House said in a mass email to congressional offices.
DeepSeek, which released its first app earlier this month, is not allowed to be downloaded on House devices, including computers, phones, and tablets.
“House devices with DeepSeek installed are subject to restrictions of access to House IT resources, unless DeepSeek is uninstalled,” the CAO said, adding that the office “will continue to monitor for security concerns related to DeepSeek.”
“House staff are reminded that they should always remain vigilant when using any AI-driven tools and follow these best practices.”
Axios first reported on the CAO notice.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) warned this week that China is “now trying to get a leg up on us in AI as you’ve seen in the last day or so.”
President Donald Trump said this week that the “release of DeepSeek AI from a Chinese company should be a wake-up call for our industries that we need to be laser focused on competing to win.”
“Instead of spending billions and billions, you’ll spend less, and you’ll come up with, hopefully, the same solution,” he said.
Italy has banned DeepSeek.
“Contrary to the authority’s findings, the companies declared that they do not operate in Italy, and that European legislation does not apply to them,’’ the country’s data protection authority said in a statement.
DeepSeek is not the only China-controlled application banned on House devices.
In August 2024, the CAO began blocking apps from ByteDance, which owns TikTok, which was temporarily banned this month but is now tentatively available pending a possible sale of the app to a U.S. entity.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.