A new piece of legislation introduced by Republican Senator Josh Hawley could soon have significant consequences for users of the Chinese-developed chatbot DeepSeek. The proposed law, which is part of a broader effort to restrict U.S. involvement in advancing artificial intelligence capabilities in the People’s Republic of China, would impose severe penalties—including fines up to $1 million and prison sentences of up to 20 years—on individuals who violate its provisions. Additionally, businesses found to be in breach of the law could face penalties of up to $100 millioNn

In this article, we examine the details of the proposed law, its potential impact on users of DeepSeek and related technologies, and the broader implications for U.S. technology policy and national security.

Legislative Background and Objectives

Senator Josh Hawley, a prominent Republican known for his focus on issues of national security and protecting U.S. technological leadership, has introduced a bill that aims to “prohibit United States persons from advancing artificial intelligence capabilities within the People’s Republic of China, and for other persons.” The bill is part of a growing legislative push to counter what some U.S. lawmakers view as undue influence by Chinese technology and intellectual property on critical American industries.

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