Lawmakers Call for Inquiry Into China's DeepSeek Over National Security, Data Risks

Key Points

1. The lawmakers, led by Senator Ted Budd, sent a letter on August 1 expressing concerns about DeepSeek's R1 model.

2. They argue that R1's open-source nature allows developers to modify its model weights, creating potential security vulnerabilities.

3. The letter cites risks such as data theft, tampering, and adversarial misuse, particularly in military applications.

4. DeepSeek was previously scrutinized in April over fears that China could gain a competitive edge in AI development.

5. Experts warn that unrestricted open-source AI models could decentralize innovation outside the U.S. and pose national security threats.