Senator Josh Hawley Proposes Prohibition Of DeepSek Usage In The US

Republican Senator Josh Hawley proposed a new DeepSeeek ban law (photo: x @1310kzrg)

JAKARTA - China's artificial intelligence (AI) technology is now at the center of growing trade tensions between the US and China.

The rise of Chinese ChatGPT competitor DeepSek has worried businesses and the US government. In an effort to protect US dominance in AI technology development and tighten trade sanctions against China, Republican Senator Josh Hawley proposed a new law that could give severe punishment to anyone using Chinese-made AI technology such as DeepSek in the US.

The bill aims to prohibit US citizens from increasing AI capabilities in the People's Republic of China, as well as for other purposes. If passed, the law will prohibit imports of technology or AI intellectual property from China within 180 days of enactment. This means anyone using or distributing Chinese-made AI technology can be considered unlawful.

Proposed criminal sanctions include fines of up to USD 100 million (IDR 16.3 trillion) for companies and USD 1 million (IDR 16.3 billion) for individuals. In addition, civil penalties include a three-fold fine of losses suffered by the US government. Violators will also lose the feasibility of federal contracts, licenses, and financial assistance for five years.

Although the bill does not specifically mention DeepSee, the Chinese AI company is already under the scrutiny of the US government as a potential threat to the national security and the US AI industry. As reported by The Independent, US President Donald Trump called the AI application a "serious warning" to America, while the US Navy and NASA have banned its use.

In addition to bans on imports of AI technology from China, the bill will also ban exports, re-exports, or transfers of AI technology from the US to China "a move expected given the growing trade tension between the two countries."

If this bill is passed, US citizens will also be barred from conducting research and development of AI in China, collaborating with Chinese entities, or distributing AI research to Chinese citizens who have ties to the Chinese government or military.