Concerns are mounting in the United States as to whether the Chinese social media app DeepSeek could pose a national security threat.

Defence and technology experts have warned that the artificial intelligence app may pose a threat to the US, despite claims by President Donald Trump that DeepSeek’s development was a “wake-up” call for the country.

David Sacks, Trump’s AI advisor, has also raised alarms over potential intellectual property theft from the United States in the development of DeepSeek. 

Speaking to Fox News, Sacks claimed there is “substantial evidence” that China’s budget-friendly chatbot, DeepSeek, may have copied technology from US rival OpenAI, the creators of ChatGPT.

During a White House news conference, Trump’s press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, confirmed that US officials are currently investigating the national security implications of the Chinese AI application.

Republican John Moolenaar, who chairs the bipartisan House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, has called for the rapid imposition of stricter controls on technology related to DeepSeek’s AI infrastructure. 

“The US cannot allow Chinese Communist Party models such as DeepSeek to risk our national security and leverage our technology to advance their AI ambitions,”  Moolenaar said on social media. 

The Chinese app has caused an overnight upset in the United States’ dominance in artificial intelligence, becoming the most downloaded free app on Apple’s US App Store.

Experts propose solutions for AI and national security alignment between the US, EU, and China

The issue of AI’s potential threats to national security took centre stage at a panel discussion during the World Economic Forum in Switzerland last week. 

Panellists, including Nick Clegg, the outgoing Vice-President of Global Affairs at Meta; Ian Bremmer, the President and Founder of the political risk group Eurasia; Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Protecting Technology, Sovereignty, and Democracy at the European Union; Dr Lan Xue, Dean of Schwarzman College at Tsinghua University in China; and Sir Jeremy Fleming, former Director of GCHQ, highlighted the dangers of unchecked AI. These included the development of autonomous weapons, exploitation by malicious actors, cyberattacks on critical infrastructure, and the proliferation of disinformation campaigns and deepfakes.

Ian Bremmer suggested a cooperative approach akin to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, while Sir Jeremy Fleming pointed to the nuclear sphere as a precedent for international cooperation on security threats posed by AI.

UK and Australia urge citizens to take cautious approach to DeepSeek

The UK has signalled its intention to monitor any potential national security threats that DeepSeek may present. UK Technology Secretary Peter Kyle recently advised individuals to make informed choices regarding the use of DeepSeek. He cautioned, however, that the platform’s inherent censorship features limit the freedoms typically expected from other AI models. 

In Australia, Science Minister Ed Husic similarly advised users to exercise caution before downloading the AI app. He highlighted several unresolved issues concerning the platform’s quality, user preferences, and its approach to data handling and privacy.

Both nations underscore the importance of careful consideration when using DeepSeek, particularly given the risks it poses to personal privacy and national security.