By Chang Dong-woo
WASHINGTON, Oct. 19 (Yonhap) -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has ordered federal civilian agencies to remove products developed by Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) startup DeepSeek from their information technology systems and barred them from procuring such products, according to a federal notice released Monday.
The order, detailed in a notice scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on Tuesday, applies to information technology products and services developed by Hangzhou DeepSeek Artificial Intelligence Co. and its affiliated entities.
The restrictions also cover third-party products and services developed using DeepSeek implementations.
The department said the order was issued under the Federal Acquisition Supply Chain Security Act of 2018 following a review of a recommendation by the Federal Acquisition Security Council and related evidence.
The order applies to federal civilian agency IT systems and procurements, rather than imposing a general ban on the use of DeepSeek products by private businesses or individuals in the United States.
The South Korean government also moved to restrict the use of DeepSeek in February 2025, with its foreign, trade and defense ministries blocking access to the Chinese AI service on government computers amid concerns over user data collection and potential information leaks.
The homepage of Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek's website is seen in this captured image. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
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