DeepSeek, the Chinese artificial intelligence company that has taken the tech world by storm, is now facing scrutiny over potential national security risks. Cybersecurity experts have discovered hidden code within DeepSeek’s app that is capable of sending user data directly to the Chinese government. Ivan Tsarynny, CEO of Feroot Security, a cybersecurity firm based in Ontario, said, “We see direct links to servers and to companies in China that are under control of the Chinese government.
This is something that we have never seen before.”
When users register or log into DeepSeek, they may unknowingly create accounts in China, making their personal information accessible to state systems. Tsarynny’s analysis of DeepSeek’s code revealed hidden programming that directs user data to CMPassport.com, an online registry for China Mobile, a state-operated telecommunications company. The FCC banned China Mobile from operating in the U.S. in 2019 due to national security concerns.
It was delisted from the New York Stock Exchange in 2021 and added to the FCC’s list of national security threats in 2022. John Cohen, a cybersecurity expert and former acting Undersecretary for Intelligence and Analysis for the Department of Homeland Security, called DeepSeek a blatant example of suspected surveillance. “National security officials always suspect that technology sold by a Chinese-based company has a backdoor making that data accessible to the Chinese government.
In this case, the back door’s been discovered, it’s been opened, and that’s alarming,” said Cohen. Rep.
deepseek privacy concerns escalate
Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), who serves on the House Intelligence Committee, urged immediate action. “I think we should ban DeepSeek from all government devices immediately. No one should be allowed to download it onto their device.
And we have to inform the public,” he said. DeepSeek’s terms of service are governed by the laws of the People’s Republic of China, and its privacy policy discloses the collection of various types of data, including chat history, search queries, and keystroke patterns. However, experts say it is impossible to know the exact nature of the data potentially sent to China Mobile.
Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), the top Democrat on the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, expressed his concerns. “I think there’s absolutely the intention by the CCP to collect data of Americans and user data worldwide.
This pattern of data collection is very familiar to those studying CCP-controlled apps,” he said. DeepSeek, its hedge fund founder High-Flyer, and China Mobile did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
