Bipartisan bill seeks to ban federal agencies from using DeepSeek, AI tools from ‘foreign adversaries’

A pair of senators introduced a bill on Wednesday that would ban federal agencies from using artificial intelligence tools produced in countries considered “foreign adversaries” — a term that legally covers Russia, China, Iran and North Korea.

The No Adversarial AI Act would create a federal list of AI tools produced by companies based in Russia, China, Iran and North Korea, and prohibit U.S. agencies from using them.

The legislation is from Sens. Rick Scott (R-FL) and Gary Peters (D-MI). Several House members introduced a corresponding bill as well. 

The proposal comes as concerns have grown about DeepSeek, a powerful AI tool made in China. U.S. officials told Reuters on Monday that DeepSeek is helping China’s military and has provided user information to the government. 

On Thursday, it was reported that at least one employee at the U.S. Department of Agriculture tried to access DeepSeek at work but was blocked. 

There are exceptions in the bill that would allow certain tools to be used for research and testing but would require written justification and notices provided to Congress. The list would be updated every 180 days and there would be mechanisms to have tools added or removed. 

Peters said the legislation was designed to “safeguard U.S. government systems from AI developed by foreign adversaries that could compromise our national security or put Americans’ personal data at risk.” 

“It’s a smart, focused step to ensure our government technology infrastructure keeps pace with the evolving threats we face while still allowing room for scientific research, evaluation, and innovation,” he said. 

Scott claimed there is “clear evidence” that China is accessing the user data of U.S. citizens through AI systems and called it “absolutely insane” for any federal agency to be allowed to use the tools.

When DeepSeek was initially released in January, multiple federal and state agencies proactively banned employees from using it. House members introduced another bill in February that would ban DeepSeek from being accessible on any federal devices. The bill did not advance out of the House Oversight Committee. 

Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) said the No Adversarial AI Act would create a firewall between foreign adversary-produced AI and the U.S. government. 

“Chinese, Russian, and other adversary AI systems simply do not belong on government devices, and certainly shouldn’t be entrusted with government data,” he said. 

U.S. laws or presidential orders previously have banned foreign-produced software such as TikTok and Kaspersky Lab products from U.S. government agencies.