DeepSeek Aids China's Military and Evaded Export Controls, US Official Says (reuters.com) 28
An anonymous reader shares a report: AI firm DeepSeek is aiding China's military and intelligence operations, a senior U.S. official told Reuters, adding that the Chinese tech startup sought to use Southeast Asian shell companies to access high-end semiconductors that cannot be shipped to China under U.S. rules. The U.S. conclusions reflect a growing conviction in Washington that the capabilities behind the rapid rise of one of China's flagship AI enterprises may have been exaggerated and relied heavily on U.S. technology.
[...] "We understand that DeepSeek has willingly provided and will likely continue to provide support to China's military and intelligence operations," a senior State Department official told Reuters in an interview. "This effort goes above and beyond open-source access to DeepSeek's AI models," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity in order to speak about U.S. government information. Chinese law requires companies operating in China to provide data to the government when requested. But the suggestion that DeepSeek is already doing so is likely to raise privacy and other concerns for the firm's tens of millions of daily global users.
[...] "We understand that DeepSeek has willingly provided and will likely continue to provide support to China's military and intelligence operations," a senior State Department official told Reuters in an interview. "This effort goes above and beyond open-source access to DeepSeek's AI models," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity in order to speak about U.S. government information. Chinese law requires companies operating in China to provide data to the government when requested. But the suggestion that DeepSeek is already doing so is likely to raise privacy and other concerns for the firm's tens of millions of daily global users.
They are a Chinese company (Score:3)
Re: (Score:2)
Exactly, what ever other country does: Find ways the barriers of aquisition or entry. And if that does not work, join with others with common goals.
The US did this to England during the 19th century industrial revolution. It works!
Re: (Score:2)
At the very least to stop "destroying the value" of outfits like OpenAI, Palantir and all other llamas and gemini by publishing opensource efficient LL models.
Re: They are a Chinese company (Score:1)
They didn't even need AI to make it work
Always be skeptical (Score:5, Insightful)
...about anything coming from "a senior U.S. official " in today's political world
Re:Always be skeptical (Score:4, Insightful)
Meanwhile.
https://tech.slashdot.org/stor... [slashdot.org]
Re: (Score:2)
Like when Elvis wanted a DEA badge from Nixon so he could travel with drugs and guns. https://www.smithsonianmag.com... [smithsonianmag.com]
It appears little has changed.
Re: (Score:2)
It soon may change as Trump is proposing a merger of the DEA and ATF.
Re: Always be skeptical (Score:1)
And that's bad? If reduces waste by combining duplicates jobs and increases productivity
Sounds like (Score:2)
Do you think they have a choice? (Score:2)
You can't be not willingly in China if you produce such important tech.
Re: (Score:3)
Just like all the US companies that have rushed to get military contracts with the Pentagon also have a choice.
Re: (Score:1)
Quite different. Chinese law requires that Chinese people, everywhere, must aid Chinese intelligence services when asked.
Re: Do you think they have a choice? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re: (Score:3)
In the USA they just jail you for insider trading. https://www.washingtonpost.com... [washingtonpost.com] Who really gets in trouble for insider trading? All of congress is in on it.
Re: Do you think they have a choice? (Score:1)
And in China you get disappeared for speaking out against the CCP
Re: (Score:3)
Someone is afraid of good AI competition (Score:1)
Re: Its China. Of course they would lie/cheat/stea (Score:1)
Gee never heard this before. Oh what I have during the last administration.
Re: Its China. Of course they would lie/cheat/stea (Score:1)
https://youtu.be/RDrfE9I8_hs [youtu.be]
Ditto (Score:4, Informative)
American law requires companies operating in America to provide data to the government when requested.
Neither government is particularly trustworthy.
Re: (Score:3)
Chinese law requires companies operating in China to provide data to the government when requested. American law requires companies operating in America to provide data to the government when requested. Neither government is particularly trustworthy.
Exactly. At least with DeepSeek I have the option to run their models locally where it can't be shared with any government short of them coming to my office, taking my laptop, and somehow compelling me to give them access or breaking the device encryption.
Re: (Score:1)
"American law requires companies operating in America to provide data to the government when requested."
Outside of a NSL, US companies quite often say 'No' to the government. Telling the government its request is too broad or they need a subpoena/warrant.
Re: (Score:2)
Outside of a NSL, US companies quite often say 'No' to the government.
Yes, we know. Outside of the times when they are not allowed to say no, or even talk about it at all, US companies quite often say 'No' to the government.
Re: Propaganda (Score:1, Insightful)
A lot more than anything coming from the CCP.