China vows retaliation after DHS bans DeepSeek AI from federal systems
Beijing rejects US security concerns over DeepSeek and warns of countermeasures following the Homeland Security directive to remove the vendor's software.
Key points
- DHS ordered federal civilian agencies to remove DeepSeek products and services from their IT systems.
- Chinese officials expressed strong opposition and vowed to safeguard the rights of Chinese companies.
- The ban prohibits new procurement of DeepSeek tools and cites server location as a threat vector.
China announced it would take necessary measures to defend its companies after the US Department of Homeland Security ordered federal agencies to remove DeepSeek artificial intelligence products from their networks. The Chinese Foreign Ministry stated it would resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese firms, according to SecurityWeek.
The DHS directive, which dates back to late July, requires civilian agencies to uninstall DeepSeek software and any third-party services built using the vendor's models. The order also blocks federal agencies from purchasing new DeepSeek products or services. The agency cited multiple threat vectors in the Federal Register notice published on Monday.
Strategic Distrust and Security Concerns
The DHS notice alleges that DeepSeek’s models present significant security risks because the company's servers are located in China. The agency stated that Chinese authorities could potentially access private company infrastructure and sensitive US data through these systems. This restriction reflects deep strategic distrust between Beijing and Washington, according to George Chen, a partner at The Asia Group consultancy.
Chen noted that this tension persists even as US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping work to maintain a warm and constructive personal relationship. The ban highlights the ongoing friction in the race to develop advanced artificial intelligence technology between the two nations, despite recent progress in some areas of AI governance collaboration.
Official Reactions and Opposition
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters that China consistently opposes the overstretching of the concept of national security. She emphasized that Beijing would not tolerate actions that harm the legitimate interests of its companies. The Ministry of Commerce also issued a statement expressing strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to the US move.
The commerce ministry argued that the US disregarded the consensus reached between President Xi and President Trump. It claimed the US is trying to suppress and contain China through discriminatory restrictions under the guise of national security. The ministry stated it would closely monitor the situation and take all necessary measures to defend its rights, according to SecurityWeek.
What should you do?
Security professionals should review their federal or government-adjacent IT environments for any DeepSeek products or third-party services that utilize DeepSeek models. Organizations should verify whether their current AI tools rely on infrastructure hosted in jurisdictions that pose compliance risks.
What to do and how to stay safe: DeepSeek
- Audit inventory for DeepSeek products and any third-party services developed using its models to ensure compliance with federal directives.
- Monitor official government channels for updates on prohibited AI vendors and expanded lists of restricted technologies.
- Evaluate the data residency of all AI models in use to identify potential exposure to foreign server infrastructure.
- Review procurement contracts to ensure no new agreements are being formed with vendors on the restricted list.
Step-by-step guide: Prompt Injection Warning Signs: How to Spot AI Manipulation
General security guidance from the Threat Times newsroom. It is not confirmed advice from the organisations named in this story.
Frequently asked questions
What specific action did the DHS order federal agencies to take?
The DHS ordered agencies to remove DeepSeek products and third-party services developed using DeepSeek from their IT systems and prohibited new procurement.
Why did the DHS cite DeepSeek as a security risk?
The agency stated that DeepSeek's servers are located in China, which could allow Chinese authorities to access sensitive US data and private infrastructure.
How did Chinese officials respond to the ban?
Chinese officials expressed strong opposition, stating they would resolutely safeguard the rights of Chinese companies and take necessary measures to defend them.
