US lawmakers propose harsh sanctions for using DeepSeek

US lawmakers propose harsh sanctions for using Chinese AI models

US lawmakers have introduced a new bill under which using the Chinese chatbot DeepSeek could carry a prison sentence of up to 20 years.

The ban covers all language models developed in China – whether they are the work of commercial companies, universities or research laboratories.

The key provisions of the initiative:
A complete ban on the use of Chinese language models in the US.
Strict regulation of AI access for users from China – they will be prohibited from working with open-source models.
Harsh sanctions for violators: fines of up to $1 million and imprisonment for up to 20 years.

The bill has sparked active debate among technology experts and human rights advocates, as such measures could limit international cooperation and the development of artificial intelligence.