US Senator Plans 'DeepSeek Ban Act,' New Law to Restrict AI Imports and Exports to China Submitted


By

Tim Reckmann

Republican Senator Josh Hawley has submitted a new bill to Congress, the Decoupling America's Artificial Intelligence Capabilities from China Act, which would make it illegal to trade AI-related products and intellectual property with China. This could make it possible to be charged with a crime if you download an AI app from Chinese AI company DeepSeek, reports IT news site 404 Media.

Hawley Introduces Legislation to Decouple American AI Development from Communist China - Josh Hawley
https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-introduces-legislation-to-decouple-american-ai-development-from-communist-china/

Senator Hawley Proposes Jail Time for People Who Download DeepSeek
https://www.404media.co/senator-hawley-proposes-jail-time-for-people-who-download-deepseek/

Reacting to DeepSeek, US Senate bill would separate US and China efforts to develop AI | South China Morning Post
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3296994/reacting-deepseek-us-senate-bill-would-separate-us-and-china-efforts-develop-ai

DeepSeek's AI was initially touted as an open-source model that achieved the same performance as OpenAI's models at a much lower cost. However, suspicions of data distillation in violation of OpenAI's terms of use and the fact that the AI refused to answer sensitive questions about international issues and output answers favorable to the Chinese government came to light, raising concerns about the risk of data leaks .

For example, it has already been discovered that the DeepSeek app has disappeared from the app stores for iOS and Android in Italy.

DeepSeek app disappears from Italy's Apple and Google app stores, shortly after Italian Data Protection Authority asks DeepSeek about its use of personal data - GIGAZINE



Furthermore, on January 29, 2025, Senator Hawley stated, 'Why are we allowing American tech companies like Microsoft to help China develop AI like DeepSeek? This is insane. We must immediately ban the transfer of AI technology to China,' announcing that he had introduced a bill to ban collaboration and investment with China in the field of AI.



'Every dollar and gigabyte of data flowing into China's AI is a dollar and data that ultimately ends up being spent on America,' Hawley said in a statement. 'America cannot afford to sacrifice our own strength to send salt to our greatest enemy. Ensuring America's economic dominance means cutting China off from American ingenuity and stopping us from fueling the Chinese Communist Party's technological innovations.'

The new law was brought in response to China's DeepSeek, which sparked international concern and a sell-off in U.S. technology stocks, the statement said.

China's AI 'DeepSeek' shock causes panic selling of tech stocks, NVIDIA's market capitalization disappears by 91 trillion yen, more than doubling the previous record of crash - GIGAZINE



The bill's (PDF file) provisions are broadly divided into three prohibitions: 'import and export of AI technology to and from China,' 'US companies conducting AI research in China or partnering with Chinese companies,' and 'US companies investing in China's AI development.'

If the bill is enacted, violators could face up to 20 years in prison, or a fine of up to $1 million, or both. Downloading Chinese AI apps, such as the DeepSeek app, could also violate the law.

'This law is a broad attack on the very notion of scientific consultation and technical exchange with China on AI, and could result in devastating penalties for both AI researchers and AI users, with serious implications for the future of free speech and free scientific inquiry online,' Kevin Bankston, senior adviser for AI governance at the Center for Democracy & Technology, told 404 Media.



However, some believe that the submission of this bill is merely a demonstration and unlikely to be realized.

Paul Triolo, partner and senior vice president for China at Washington-based consulting firm DGA Group, told the Hong Kong Times that he expected Hawley's bill would face strong opposition from the tech industry and other lawmakers. 'The proposal is unrealistic and reflects a series of misunderstandings about the influence American companies and researchers have on China's AI landscape,' he said.

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