Athira Sethu
Kochi, 5 Feb 2025
Texas became the first U.S. state to ban Chinese-owned AI app DeepSeek because of national security concerns. According to reports, Governor Greg Abbott signed an order that bars its use on devices issued by the state, considering that the Chinese government could obtain sensitive information through the app. This decision has placed Texas at the forefront of a global effort against the application, which has raised alarms on data storage and ties to the Chinese government.
DeepSeek is an AI application that has been developed by the Chinese and is cheaply made and efficient, much more so than anything from OpenAI. However, the application has faced a lot of criticism on how it stores user data on servers in China, suggesting Chinese authorities can access this data. These cases led several U.S. agencies, such as the Navy, NASA, and other related government organizations, to ban the app.
This ban in Texas reflects growing concerns in the United States about the risks of Chinese apps, which may threaten privacy and national security. According to Governor Abbott, Texas will continue to defend its state infrastructure from foreign threats.
This is happening at a time when Texas is becoming the hub for most technology companies, especially after Elon Musk’s companies, SpaceX and X, moved their headquarters there. The reason for Musk’s relocation was partly because of his disagreement with a law in California that requires teachers to notify parents about changes in their children’s gender identity. His move to Texas emphasizes the growing influence of the state in the tech industry.
The problem with DeepSeek is not only in the United States. Other countries, such as Italy, Taiwan, and Australia, have also banned the app due to security risks. Italy has banned the app from the app stores, while Taiwan and Australia have banned it from being used by government agencies. This global backlash is growing, and it shows how governments are concerned about the control China could have over data.
The U.S. lawmakers are also proposing new regulations to limit Chinese-developed technologies such as DeepSeek. Republican Senator Josh Hawley has introduced a bill that would impose fines and jail time on those who use AI products from China.
Experts claim that DeepSeek’s data storage policies can pose risks to businesses and governments. According to Bill Conner, the CEO of Jitterbit and former U.S. security advisor, the app poses a significant threat to data privacy and security since it stores data in China.
The ban in Texas is a precursor to much more severe attacks on the application. With multiple countries questioning whether the application indeed protects their people’s data, and national security, this future debate will make or break digital governance globally.
