New York Governor Kathy Hochul has ordered a ban on the Chinese artificial intelligence application DeepSeek from government devices, citing concerns over national security and data privacy. The move, announced Monday, prohibits state employees from downloading or using the AI tool on government-managed networks and devices.
"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."
The decision follows growing bipartisan concerns in Washington over DeepSeek's potential connections to the Chinese government. The AI-powered chatbot, developed by a small research lab owned by Chinese hedge fund High-Flyer, has gained global attention since its rapid rise to the top of the Apple App Store last month. Its sudden success sparked fears over its security implications, particularly as Chinese law requires companies to cooperate with government intelligence agencies.
Hochul's administration pointed to suspicions that DeepSeek "can be used to harvest user data and steal technology secrets." The ban aligns with the Legislative Oversight of Automated Decision-making in Government Act (LOADinG Act), which Hochul signed in December, establishing AI governance policies for state agencies.
DeepSeek's rise has been met with resistance beyond New York. Last week, a bipartisan group in Congress introduced a federal bill to ban DeepSeek from all U.S. government devices. "The national security threat that DeepSeek-a CCP-affiliated company-poses to the United States is alarming," said Rep. Darin LaHood (R-Ill.), who co-sponsored the legislation with Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.). Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) has proposed a more aggressive measure that would prohibit Americans from downloading Chinese AI models altogether.
Security concerns escalated after a research study published last week suggested that DeepSeek's website contained code capable of transmitting user login information to China Mobile, a state-owned telecommunications company banned from operating in the U.S. The Associated Press first reported the findings.
New York's Chief Cyber Officer Colin Ahern endorsed the state's decision, stating, "Safeguarding New Yorker's critical infrastructure, privacy, and freedom from censorship are central pillars of Governor Hochul's security and resilience agenda."
DeepSeek, which launched its AI model R1 last month, has outperformed some of the most advanced U.S.-based AI models, reportedly at a fraction of the cost. However, its China-based origins have fueled concerns that it could be exploited for espionage. Comparisons to TikTok, which faced federal scrutiny for similar reasons, have raised the prospect of broader U.S. action against Chinese AI products.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry dismissed the concerns as politically motivated. "The Chinese government attaches great importance to and legally protects data privacy and security," ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Thursday. "It has never and will never require companies or individuals to collect or store data in violation of the law."
