The US Congress has reportedly proposed a bill that seeks to criminalize the downloading of the Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) platform DeepSeek, with a penalty of up to $1 million.
US Proposes 20-year Prison Term on Downloading DeepSeek
The congressional bill, “Decoupling American Artificial Intelligence Capabilities from China Act of 2025,” proposes banning Americans from assisting China in advancing AI and prohibits them from downloading or using DeepSeek. According to the bill, any citizen who violates this law will be committing a crime and may face up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $1 million.
The bill also states that if American individuals or companies collaborate with Chinese colleges, universities, or laboratories on AI, they may be breaking the law. Companies found in violation could be fined up to $100 million. Additionally, non-US citizens involved in technology transfer may face deportation.
According to media reports, the bill explicitly prohibits U.S. individuals from “holding or managing any interest in” or providing loans or credit lines to Chinese entities involved in AI or generative AI-related research and development, the production of goods incorporating such technology, support for China’s military or surveillance operations, or activities linked to human rights violations.
The bill was proposed by Republican Senator Josh Hawley, who previously served as Missouri’s Attorney General and was involved in investigations into major technology companies, including Google and Facebook, over alleged election interference. The US has previously banned government officials from using the DeepSeek app, including key administrative agencies such as the Department of Defense and Congress.
Although Hawley has not made substantial comments regarding this bill, many believe the proposal is a response to DeepSeek’s growing popularity, which has unsettled Big Tech circles. Moreover, the US crackdown on Chinese AI could also be linked to the ongoing tariff war with China, which has triggered strong responses, including retaliatory tariff policies from China.
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