DeepSeek a ‘Profound Threat’ to National Security: US House Panel
In a move that has sent shockwaves across the global tech community, a US House panel has labelled the Chinese AI tool DeepSeek a “profound threat” to the country’s national security. The committee’s warning comes amidst the ongoing trade war between the US and China, with the panel citing concerns over the app’s data collection practices and potential links to military research and strategic labs.
According to the committee, DeepSeek, which is available for download on the Google Play Store, appears to be a innocuous social media monitoring tool designed to help users track and analyze online conversations. However, closer inspection reveals that the app is actually siphoning data back to the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
The committee’s findings were contained in a report released earlier this month, which stated that DeepSeek’s data collection practices posed a significant threat to US national security. The report noted that the app’s creators have ties to military research and strategic labs in China, raising concerns over the potential for the data collected to be used for malicious purposes.
The report also highlighted the app’s ability to collect and analyze vast amounts of user data, including personal information, messages, and online activities. This information can be used to identify and track individuals, including US citizens, and could potentially be used to compromise national security.
The US House panel’s warning comes as tensions between the US and China continue to escalate, with the two countries engaged in a trade war that has seen tariffs imposed on billions of dollars’ worth of goods. The panel’s findings are likely to add to the growing concerns over China’s use of technology to spy on and influence global events.
DeepSeek is not the only Chinese AI tool to raise concerns over national security. In recent years, a number of other Chinese apps, including TikTok and WeChat, have been accused of collecting and sharing user data with the Chinese government. The US government has also taken steps to restrict the use of Chinese technology in government agencies and military installations, citing concerns over cybersecurity and national security.
The US House panel’s report on DeepSeek is the latest in a series of warnings over the potential risks posed by Chinese technology. In 2020, the US Department of Defense announced plans to ban the use of TikTok on government-issued devices, citing concerns over the app’s ability to collect user data and potentially compromise national security.
The panel’s findings are likely to have significant implications for the global tech community, with many companies and governments likely to re-evaluate their use of Chinese technology. The report is also likely to add to the growing tensions between the US and China, with the two countries engaged in a series of trade and diplomatic disputes.
In conclusion, the US House panel’s warning over DeepSeek is a sobering reminder of the potential risks posed by Chinese technology. As the global tech community continues to evolve and grow, it is essential that companies and governments prioritize national security and protect their citizens’ data from foreign powers.
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