Overview

Title

To prohibit the use of DeepSeek by the executive agencies, and for other purposes.

ELI5 AI

S. 765 is a rule that says some people working for the government can't use a special app called DeepSeek on their work gadgets, but there are special cases, like when protecting the country, where it's okay. The government has to make sure these apps are taken off work gadgets within two months of the rule starting.

Summary AI

S. 765 is a bill aimed at stopping executive agencies from using the DeepSeek application, or any similar app developed by High Flyer or its affiliates, on government devices. The Director of the Office of Management and Budget, along with other agency leaders, is tasked with creating guidelines to ensure these apps are removed from government technology within 60 days of the bill becoming law. There are exceptions for national security, law enforcement, and research, provided that agencies document measures to reduce risks associated with such use.

Published

2025-02-27
Congress: 119
Session: 1
Chamber: SENATE
Status: Introduced in Senate
Date: 2025-02-27
Package ID: BILLS-119s765is

Keywords AI

deepseek executive agencies government devices high flyer application prohibition national security exception law enforcement exception compliance monitoring information technology systems risk management guidelines

Sources

Bill Statistics

Size

Sections:
2
Words:
436
Pages:
3
Sentences:
12

Language

Nouns: 159
Verbs: 24
Adjectives: 15
Adverbs: 2
Numbers: 17
Entities: 41

Complexity

Average Token Length:
4.49
Average Sentence Length:
36.33
Token Entropy:
4.73
Readability (ARI):
21.39

AnalysisAI

General Summary of the Bill

The legislation under consideration, known as the "No DeepSeek on Government Devices Act," was introduced in the U.S. Senate to prohibit the use of the DeepSeek application on government technology systems. Sponsored by Ms. Rosen alongside Mr. Husted and Mr. Ricketts, this bill mandates that within 60 days of its enactment, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, in collaboration with various federal agencies, must establish standards for the removal of DeepSeek from all government devices. The bill also provides for certain exceptions, allowing DeepSeek's use in areas such as law enforcement and national security, provided that risks are properly managed and documented.

Summary of Significant Issues

There are several notable issues within the bill that warrant attention:

  1. Lack of Enforcement Mechanisms: One of the key criticisms is the absence of specified penalties or consequences for executive agencies that fail to comply with the bill’s provisions. This lack of enforcement detail could undermine the bill’s objective.

  2. Ambiguity in Coverage: The term "successor application or service" remains undefined, leading to potential ambiguity about which future applications may fall under this prohibition, and could present legal and enforcement challenges.

  3. Update Mechanism: The bill does not outline a process for updating the list of covered applications, risking the possibility that new relevant technologies may not be promptly included in the prohibition.

  4. Compliance Monitoring: There is no established mechanism within the bill for monitoring or auditing compliance among executive agencies, which could result in unchecked non-compliance.

  5. Complex Consultation Requirements: The language regarding the required consultation among various government entities is complex and could lead to confusion regarding the roles and responsibilities, possibly hindering implementation.

Impact on the Public Broadly

At a broad level, this bill aims to enhance the security of government information technology systems by eliminating an application that may pose a risk. This could reassure the public that sensitive governmental data is being protected against potential threats related to specific software applications.

Impact on Specific Stakeholders

  • Government Agencies: Agencies will be required to invest time and resources in identifying and removing the DeepSeek application from their systems. The ambiguity in guidelines and the lack of clarity in enforcement and monitoring may complicate compliance and could lead to uncertainty among agencies about implementation responsibilities.

  • High Flyer and Similar Companies: Companies like High Flyer, responsible for developing DeepSeek, may face negative impacts due to the prohibition, especially if "successor applications" are not clearly defined. This could limit their business opportunities within the federal sector.

  • National Security and Law Enforcement: The exceptions provided in the bill for national security and law enforcement purposes are positive, as they ensure continuity in critical operations. However, these agencies will need to carefully manage and document risk mitigation strategies to comply with the law.

Overall, while the bill aims to protect government information technology from potential vulnerabilities associated with the DeepSeek application, its current framework lacks certain mechanisms that are crucial for effective implementation and oversight.

Issues

  • The prohibition section in Section 2 does not specify penalties or consequences for non-compliance by executive agencies, which could weaken enforcement and overall effectiveness of the bill.

  • The term 'successor application or service' in Section 2 is vague and may lead to ambiguity about which future applications or services are covered under the Act, potentially causing legal and enforcement challenges.

  • The bill lacks a defined process for identifying and updating the list of covered applications, as mentioned in Section 2. This could lead to outdated or incomplete coverage over time, reducing the effectiveness of the prohibition.

  • There is no mechanism mentioned in Section 2 for monitoring or auditing the compliance of executive agencies with the removal of covered applications, potentially allowing non-compliance to go unchecked.

  • The language used to describe the consultation process in Section 2 among various directors and agencies is complex and may lead to confusion about roles and responsibilities, which could hinder the timely and effective implementation of the bill.

Sections

Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.

1. Short title Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The first section of this Act provides its short title, stating that it may be referred to as the “No DeepSeek on Government Devices Act.”

2. Prohibition on the use of DeepSeek Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The section prohibits executive agencies from using the DeepSeek application, developed by High Flyer, on their information technology systems. Exceptions are allowed for purposes like law enforcement and national security, with guidelines requiring these agencies to document how they will manage any risks involved.