Key takeaways
- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security ordered all civilian federal agencies to remove DeepSeek products from their IT systems, including third-party software built on DeepSeek models, and banned new purchases. The order was signed on July 24 and published on October 20, without any stated reason.
- China’s Foreign Ministry accused Washington of “overstretching” national security, and the Commerce Ministry threatened “resolute countermeasures.” At the same time, China does not allow ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini for anyone, not even ordinary users.
- My view: in my opinion, China looks very arrogant here. It is our state and we decide what runs in our offices. They banned American AI for everyone first, so they should keep quiet.
The United States has officially kicked DeepSeek out of its federal offices. The Department of Homeland Security ordered all civilian federal agencies to remove products from the Chinese AI company DeepSeek from their IT systems. The order also covers third-party products built on DeepSeek models and bans any new purchases. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin signed it on July 24, but it was only published in the Federal Register on October 20. It gives no reason. DeepSeek’s own privacy policy says it stores user data in China.
The order applies only to government agencies and their contractors, not to companies or the public. China reacted immediately. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Beijing opposes “overstretching” the concept of national security, and the Commerce Ministry demanded the ban be lifted and threatened “resolute countermeasures.” As The Decoder pointed out, China itself does not allow ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini at all, and since 2023 every AI service in China needs state approval and has to follow political guidelines.
In this article: China is offended. Seriously? · Our state, our rules · They don’t even need a reason · They should keep quiet · I have never used DeepSeek, and I never will · Countermeasures against Apple? That would be stupid · Their internet and ours · Open source doesn’t make it safe · FAQ
China is offended. Seriously?
China really looks very arrogant here. Basically: we are offended that you banned DeepSeek, but when we banned you, that is something completely different. Oh God. In my opinion, China already has some kind of superpower disease.
So yes, in my opinion, it is fair that the U.S. bans DeepSeek.
Our state, our rules
Is it right that the U.S. banned DeepSeek in its offices? Yes, it is right. How can China tell other countries what they can use in their own offices? And when DeepSeek writes in its own terms that it keeps all the information in China, they should have done this from the start.
Look how smart the Chinese are. In my opinion, they want to know absolutely everything about government offices and then use it against the U.S. I would throw them out immediately. I don’t know why it took so long. DeepSeek was already banned on government devices at the Pentagon, NASA, the Navy and in Congress back in February 2025, and only now did they come up with a full order.
| U.S. on DeepSeek | China on U.S. AI | |
|---|---|---|
| Who is affected | Civilian federal agencies and contractors | Everyone, including ordinary users |
| ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini | Allowed | Not approved |
| DeepSeek for the public | Allowed | Allowed |
| Reason given | None in the order | State approval rules since 2023 |
They don’t even need a reason
The order was signed in July and published only now, without a single reason. So what? They don’t even have to publish a reason. This is the state. Why should it explain anything to anyone? We don’t want a spy like DeepSeek in our state bodies. What kind of joke is this, that we should have to defend ourselves for why we did it?
And why didn’t they put American AI into their own state services? Why did they block it? What kind of arrogance is this? Who are they even to think like that? In my opinion, they were collecting something, they liked it, and now they say they will defend themselves.
They should keep quiet
In my opinion, they have no right to complain. This is our state, and here we decide what we will use in our services. They were the first to ban ChatGPT and the others, even for ordinary users. So they should keep quiet.
I have never used DeepSeek, and I never will
I will never use it, and I have never used it. I am a skeptic when it comes to products from China. It is not that I was afraid about my data. In my opinion, what comes from China just doesn’t feel like quality to me, and unfortunately AI falls into that too.
Countermeasures against Apple? That would be stupid
What will China do with its “resolute countermeasures”? I don’t know, and in my opinion it would be stupid if they did something. Everyone knows that Apple brings big money into the Chinese economy and that iPhones sell there in huge numbers. Reports already say that iPhones are restricted for Chinese government officials.
And even if they do it, it will be their decision. But they cannot collect information from offices for a foreign state. How are we supposed to understand that?
Their internet and ours
Is this the start of an “AI cold war”? That is probably a big word, war. But China, as we know it, has everything of its own, and it wants to give us its things and push them on us. In my opinion, that won’t work. The best technology is still made in the U.S. and Europe.
And that every side will have its own internet? That won’t even surprise me. They have their own YouTube, like Bilibili and Youku, and their famous WeChat, where you chat, pay and order food in one app. So it is nothing new for them that they live in their own bubble, while the U.S. and Europe are open to almost the whole world.
Open source doesn’t make it safe
DeepSeek is open source, and the order bans it even inside other companies’ software. Can that even be controlled? Maybe not perfectly. But when they say it collects information for China, then for God’s sake, it must not be used. We don’t know how it could turn against us over time.
Also on Evolt News: an OpenAI model hacked a government site · iPhone record market share
Image: Architect of the Capitol.
This article is opinion.
DeepSeek ban: FAQ
Did the U.S. ban DeepSeek?
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security ordered civilian federal agencies to remove DeepSeek products from their IT systems, including third-party products built on DeepSeek models, and banned new purchases. It does not apply to companies or the public.
When was the DeepSeek ban issued?
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin signed the order on July 24, 2026. It was filed for public inspection on October 19 and published in the Federal Register on October 20, 2026.
Why did the U.S. ban DeepSeek?
The order itself gives no reason. U.S. officials have raised concerns that Beijing could access sensitive data, and DeepSeek’s privacy policy says user data is stored in China. China’s 2017 National Intelligence Law requires companies to support intelligence work.
How did China react to the DeepSeek ban?
China’s Foreign Ministry said the U.S. is “overstretching” national security, and the Commerce Ministry demanded the ban be lifted and threatened “resolute countermeasures.”
Are ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini allowed in China?
No. ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini are not approved in China. Since 2023, AI services in China need approval from the Cyberspace Administration and must follow political guidelines.
Sources: Federal Register (DHS order), The Decoder, The Hacker News, BleepingComputer, The Hill, ExecutiveGov.
Our Take
In my opinion, China looks very arrogant: it protests a DeepSeek ban in U.S. federal offices while it blocks ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini for everyone at home.
It is our state, and we decide what runs in our offices. They banned American AI first, so in my opinion they should keep quiet.
