Artificial intelligence is at the center of global competition, with major tech powers racing to dominate the field.
As China expands its AI capabilities, concerns over data security and technological influence are growing in the U.S. A recent incident involving Pentagon employees has only added to these tensions.
For at least two days, Pentagon staff connected their office computers to Chinese servers to access DeepSeek, a newly launched AI chatbot.
The U.S. Department of Defense acted quickly, blocking access to the platform after officials raised concerns about potential security risks.
The Defense Information Systems Agency, responsible for Pentagon IT networks, implemented the ban on Tuesday evening.
Warned Beforehand
The main issue stems from DeepSeek’s privacy policy, which states that user data is stored in China and managed under Chinese law.
This has led to fears that sensitive information from Pentagon computers could have been exposed, according to Digi24.
The situation has sparked broader concerns in Washington. Congressional offices have already been warned not to use DeepSeek.
A notification from the Chief Administrative Officer of the U.S. House of Representatives advised lawmakers and staff that the platform is under review and is not authorized for official use.
DeepSeek’s rapid rise has put pressure on U.S. tech giants like OpenAI and Google’s parent company, Alphabet.
Within days of its launch, DeepSeek became the most downloaded app on Apple’s App Store.
Its emergence also contributed to a sharp decline in U.S. tech stocks, wiping out approximately $1 trillion in market value.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Commerce is investigating whether DeepSeek used restricted American-made AI chips to develop its technology.
The U.S. has strict export controls on advanced Nvidia processors to prevent them from reaching China.
Reports suggest, however, that some AI chips may have entered the country through third-party markets in Malaysia, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates.
Nvidia maintains that it expects all partners to comply with regulations and will take action if violations occur.
DeepSeek claims it used Nvidia H800 chips, which were legally available in 2023. It remains unclear whether the company also acquired restricted processors.
