(The Center Square) — New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is barring state employees from using the Chinese artificial intelligence app DeepSeek on government devices, citing concerns that the platform could be used to harvest user data and steal technology secrets.
Hochul signed an executive order on Monday banning state employees from downloading DeepSeek’s chatbot app onto their government-issued computers, smartphones and other electronic devices.
The governor cited concerns about DeepSeek AI’s connection to the Chinese government’s surveillance and censorship programs, including how the app could be used to harvest user data and steal technology secrets.
“Public safety is my top priority and we’re working aggressively to protect New Yorkers from foreign and domestic threats,” Hochul said in a statement. “New York will continue fighting to combat cyber threats, ensure the privacy and safety of our data, and safeguard against state-sponsored censorship.”
Last year, Hochul signed the Legislative Oversight of Automated Decision-making in Government Ac, which sets guidelines for using AI by state agencies — including provisions for human oversight, transparency and risk assessment.
The DeepSeek app, created by a research lab owned by Chinese hedge fund High-Flyer, has been viewed with suspicion since it emerged last month, surpassing some of the most well-known artificial intelligence models. Some have claimed that the Chinese startup stole AI data from U.S.-based firms to create its new model.
However, security researchers have notably raised concerns about DeepSeek’s ties to the Chinese Communist Party and suggest that it is capable of sending user information to Chinese-owned China Mobile, a state-run telecommunications provider. In 2019, the Federal Communications Commission voted to block China Mobile from operating in the U.S., citing its ties with Beijing.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers has filed a bill in Congress that would prohibit federal employees from downloading the DeepSeek app onto their government-issued electronic devices.
“The Chinese Communist Party has made it abundantly clear that it will exploit any tool at its disposal to undermine our national security, spew harmful disinformation, and collect data on Americans,” Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., one of the bill’s primary sponsors, said in a statement. “Now, we have deeply disturbing evidence that they are using DeepSeek to steal the sensitive data of U.S. citizens. This is a five alarm national security fire.”
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., filed a proposal last month that would prohibit Americans from downloading Chinese AI models like DeepSeek, arguing that “every dollar and gig of data that flows into Chinese AI are dollars and data that will ultimately be used against the United States.”
Last year, Congress overwhelmingly approved a nationwide ban on the TikTok social media app unless it divests from its Chinese parent company ByteDance, although President Donald Trump issued an executive order last month granting the company a 75-day extension to comply with the requirements.