New York State government bans Chinese AI app DeepSeek
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday announced a statewide ban on DeepSeek, the Chinese-owned artificial intelligence application, from being downloaded on state-owned government devices and networks.
The ban makes New York state the second to ban DeepSeek from government devices, following Texas. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott last month banned state devices from using DeepSeek, along with other social media apps affiliated with the People’s Republic of China and the Chinese Communist Party. The bans come in response to concerns around DeepSeek AI’s connection “to foreign government surveillance and censorship, including how DeepSeek can be used to harvest user data and steal technology secrets,” according to a news release from Hochul’s office.
“Public safety is my top priority and we’re working aggressively to protect New Yorkers from foreign and domestic threats,” Hochul said in the release. “New York will continue fighting to combat cyber threats, ensure the privacy and safety of our data, and safeguard against state-sponsored censorship.”
Dru Rai, New York’s chief information officer and director of the New York State Office of Information Technology Services, said in the announcement that the move was “consistent with the State’s Acceptable Use of Artificial Intelligence Technologies policy that was established at her direction over a year ago to responsibly evaluate AI systems, better serve New Yorkers, and ensure agencies remain vigilant about protecting against unwanted outcomes.”
“Safeguarding New Yorker’s critical infrastructure, privacy, freedom from censorship are central pillars of Governor Hochul’s security and resilience agenda. This action today demonstrates we will continue to defend New York from cyber threats,” New York State Chief Cyber Officer Colin Ahern added in the news release.
