US Congressman Proposes Up to 20 Years in Prison for DeepSeek Downloaders

Under a bill introduced by Senator Hawley, the US could impose up to 20 years in prison on individuals who knowingly download Chinese-developed artificial intelligence (AI) models, such as DeepSeek.

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The bill could make DeepSeek out of the US.

The bill, titled the 'Separating America's Artificial Intelligence Capabilities from China Act', aims to restrict the import and export of AI technology between the two countries and impose severe penalties on violators.

The move comes as DeepSeek has been gaining traction. DeepSeek's developers claim that the model was developed at a much lower cost than its US rivals, although this information has not been verified. Senator Hawley expressed concern about the rise of DeepSeek, calling it 'low-cost, data-harvesting AI' that is causing global insecurity. The bill aims to block the flow of data and technology that could enhance China's AI capabilities while protecting US economic power.

The bill would prohibit U.S. companies from conducting AI research in China or collaborating with Chinese companies, and would also bar them from investing in Chinese AI development. However, some critics worry that the bill's broad language could have unintended consequences, such as criminalizing the download of DeepSeek and similar AI models.

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There is still some vagueness in the language the bill puts forth.

The bill could affect ordinary users as well, not just businesses and government agencies. If someone intentionally downloads DeepSeek, they could face heavy fines or jail time, according to the Export Control Reform Act of 2018. While the bill makes it clear that the penalties only apply to 'willful' actions, many experts have expressed concern about the vagueness of the bill's language.

The bill could also disrupt the AI ​​research community. Provisions in the bill prohibit the 'transfer of research' and the publication of AI models or research papers that could be transferred to China, which could negatively impact scholars who often share their work publicly.

If passed, the bill could stifle collaboration between American and Chinese researchers, harming global AI development. The bill proposes heavy penalties for American companies that collaborate with Chinese universities or companies, which could undermine the open collaborative nature of scientific research, especially in AI, which relies on cross-border knowledge sharing.

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The bill has caused controversy because it could hinder the development of global AI.

While the bill is controversial, it has bipartisan support in the United States as it challenges China's growing influence in the technology sector. The bill's future remains uncertain, but it is clear that the United States is taking important steps to protect its leadership in AI development.

Micah Soto

Update 10 February 2025