Virginia governor bans DeepSeek AI on state-run devices, networks

VIRGINIA (DC News Now) -- Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed an executive order Tuesday banning Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek from being used on all state-run networks and devices.

The chatbot has become the most downloaded app in the U.S. and has computer code that could send some users' information to a Chinese state-owned telecommunications company, according to the Associated Press.

In its privacy policy, DeepSeek acknowledged that it stores data on servers in the People's Republic of China.

"DeepSeek ... raises significant security and privacy concerns," Youngkin's order read, in part.

Employees of Virginia agencies were directed not to use or download the application on any government-issued devices, including state-issued cell phones, laptops or other devices capable of connecting to the internet.

"Analyses by security experts reveal that DeepSeek lacks robust security measures, making it susceptible to 'jailbreaking' attacks, meaning users can get around the security measures and ethical guardrails in place on the chatbot," the order continued.

Institutions of higher education, boards, commissions and agencies were all prohibited from downloading or using DeepSeek AI on state-owned or leased equipment.

Any employee or agency that had already downloaded the app was directed to remove, delete and uninstall it by Feb. 12 - the day after the order was issued.