The US Department of Commerce has banned employees from using the DeepSeek on government-issued devices, according to sources.

Internal messages instruct staff not to download or interact with DeepSeek applications, desktop programs, or websites on government-furnished equipment.

The department has not commented publicly, and it is unclear if the ban applies to other agencies.

Lawmakers have raised concerns about data security.

In February, Representatives Josh Gottheimer and Darin LaHood introduced legislation to prohibit DeepSeek on government devices, warning that sensitive information could benefit the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Several states, including Virginia, Texas, and New York, have enacted similar bans, and 21 state attorneys general have urged Congress to take nationwide action.

The issue has drawn attention amid broader discussions about US competitiveness in AI and the influence of Chinese platforms.

Recent DeepSeek developments