Pentagon Blocks DeepSeek Access - Chinese Server Connection

Data Security Concerns Arise with DeepSeek AI Chatbot

DeepSeek’s official privacy policy clearly indicates that user data is retained on servers located in China. Furthermore, this data is subject to the laws of China, which necessitate collaboration with Chinese intelligence services.

Despite this known information, personnel within the U.S. Department of Defense were observed utilizing DeepSeek this week.

Reports from Bloomberg indicate that these individuals connected their official work computers to servers in China, employing the service for a period of at least two days.

Pentagon Response and Ongoing Access

Following the discovery, the Pentagon initiated measures to block DeepSeek on portions of its network.

However, Bloomberg also reported that access to the service remained possible for certain employees.

Government Scrutiny of DeepSeek

The increasing popularity of this Chinese AI chatbot is prompting the U.S. government to assess potential national security risks.

The chatbot has rapidly gained prominence, reaching the number one position in both the U.S. Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.

U.S. Navy Ban

On January 24th, the U.S. Navy implemented a ban on employee access to DeepSeek.

This decision was driven by concerns regarding both security and ethical considerations, as reported by CNBC.

DeepSeek presents a unique challenge as its data handling practices are governed by a foreign legal system.

The situation highlights the need for heightened awareness regarding the security implications of utilizing AI services developed and hosted in countries with differing legal frameworks.