SKN | US Bans DeepSeek From Federal Civilian IT Systems Over Data Security Concerns

Key Points

• The US Department of Homeland Security has ordered federal civilian agencies to remove DeepSeek products from their IT systems and prohibited new purchases of the technology.
• The restrictions extend to DeepSeek affiliates and third-party products and services developed using DeepSeek implementations, citing concerns that government use could expose sensitive information to China.
• The order expands earlier US restrictions on DeepSeek across defense, security, intelligence and Commerce Department systems, reflecting broader concerns about AI security and US-China technology competition.

The United States has expanded restrictions on DeepSeek by ordering federal civilian agencies to remove the Chinese artificial intelligence company’s products from their information technology systems. The move reflects continuing concerns in Washington about the security of foreign-developed AI tools and the potential exposure of sensitive government information.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued the order on Monday, with the restrictions taking effect upon publication on Tuesday. The directive requires affected agencies to remove DeepSeek products and prohibits them from making new purchases of the technology.

The scope also includes DeepSeek affiliates and third-party products and services developed using DeepSeek implementations, extending the restrictions beyond the company’s directly supplied applications.

DHS Cites Risks to Sensitive Government Information

DHS warned that the use of DeepSeek by government employees and contractors could expose sensitive information to China. Such exposure could potentially involve information about US citizens and federal government programs.

The department also cited security vulnerabilities identified in DeepSeek’s iOS application as part of its concerns.

The order establishes a government-wide restriction for the civilian agencies covered by the directive. However, the announcement does not provide a detailed inventory of affected systems or quantify the potential costs of removing and replacing DeepSeek-related products.

The restrictions reflect the sensitivity of AI deployment within government environments, where applications may interact with internal information, employee workflows and other systems that require stringent security controls.

For federal agencies, the directive means that compliance will involve identifying affected products and services, removing them from covered systems and avoiding new purchases prohibited under the order.

Restrictions Expand Earlier US Government Measures

The latest action builds on earlier US restrictions targeting DeepSeek within parts of the federal government.

Previous measures included bans across portions of the defense, security and intelligence community, as well as restrictions within the Commerce Department. The new directive extends the restrictions to civilian federal agency IT systems covered by the DHS order.

The expanding measures indicate that concerns about DeepSeek are not limited to a single government department. Instead, the restrictions are becoming part of a wider effort to manage the security implications of AI technologies developed by companies operating in strategic competition with the United States.

The directive also reaches third-party products and services built using DeepSeek implementations. This broader scope could require agencies to examine not only applications branded under DeepSeek’s name but also other services that incorporate its technology.

The order does not, however, establish a general prohibition on DeepSeek for every private-sector user in the United States. Its stated restrictions concern the covered federal civilian agency systems and purchasing activities.

International Restrictions Reflect Similar Concerns

The US action follows measures taken by other governments over the security implications of DeepSeek products.

Australia banned DeepSeek products from government systems and devices in February 2025. The measure reflected concerns about the use of the technology within official government environments.

The US directive adds to the international scrutiny facing Chinese-developed AI systems as governments assess how these tools handle information and whether their use creates risks for sensitive data.

These restrictions also sit within the broader competition between Washington and Beijing for leadership in artificial intelligence. Governments increasingly view AI systems as strategic technologies with implications for national security, public-sector operations and technological independence.

Outlook

The DHS order broadens US government restrictions on DeepSeek by requiring removal from covered civilian agency systems and prohibiting new purchases. Its implementation will depend on agencies identifying affected applications, affiliates and third-party services that use DeepSeek technology. As governments continue evaluating AI security risks, the treatment of foreign-developed systems within public-sector infrastructure is likely to remain an important consideration in technology procurement and national security policy.