Downloading DeepSeek could lead to jail time and a $1 million fine under new US bill

A new US bill could penalize DeepSeek downloaders with fines and imprisonment.

: A bill, the Decoupling America's Artificial Intelligence Capabilities from China Act of 2025, proposed by Senator Josh Hawley aims to restrict Chinese AI products like DeepSeek, imposing hefty fines and imprisonment. The bill threatens $100 million fines for US companies collaborating with China in AI and individual penalties. It comes amid security concerns and market impacts related to DeepSeek's popularity.

A legislative proposal known as the Decoupling America's Artificial Intelligence Capabilities from China Act of 2025, introduced by Republican Senator Josh Hawley, seeks to limit the use and development of Chinese AI technologies in the US, with a particular focus on DeepSeek. If enacted, the bill would levy fines up to $100 million on US firms associating with Chinese AI entities and may impose penalties, including fines and imprisonment, on individuals downloading AI models from China.

Senator Hawley has articulated concerns about the influx of data to Chinese AI, suggesting it might be leveraged detrimentally against the United States. In particular, DeepSeek's role as a popular and economically disruptive AI model has been noted, with its impact felt across technology markets, exemplified by Nvidia's significant stock loss after DeepSeek gained traction in AI circles.

DeepSeek remains a top-ranking application on Apple's App Store, indicating enforcement challenges for such a legislative measure. Nonetheless, this proposed action reflects broader geopolitical tensions and issues related to China's AI advancement, raising questions about innovation and security in an interconnected technological landscape.

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