US orders DeepSeek purge from federal systems as Chinese AI rival opens its technology to the world

The US government ordered federal agencies to remove DeepSeek technology and extended restrictions to third-party products built using its AI models.On Oct. 20, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published the directive, requiring federal civilian agencies to eliminate the Chinese company's products from their information technology systems and prohibiting future purchases.The restrictions also cover software and services developed by other companies using DeepSeek implementations, potentially affecting American technology contractors that have incorporated its models into their products.Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin originally signed the order on July 24, under the Federal Acquisition Supply Chain Security Act of 2018. Agencies were required to begin complying immediately, with a 60-day window to request exceptions.DHS cited national security concerns about DeepSeek's Chinese operations, including the possibility that government employees could enter sensitive information that could be transmitted to servers in China.The department also warned that the company's technology could contain security vulnerabilities and that information collected through its servi...