DeepSeek Has ‘Kill Switch’ to Shut Down Topics That Beijing Wants Censored: Report

The Chinese AI firm’s raw model often refuses requests for groups the regime disfavors or produces compromised codes.

The DeepSeek logo is seen at the offices of Chinese AI startup DeepSeek in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China, on Feb. 5, 2025. STR/AFP via Getty Images

DeepSeek has a “kill switch” baked into its system, and it does exactly what Beijing wants, a cybersecurity report has found.

The Chinese artificial intelligence startup writes significantly weaker code when running into prompts that contain Beijing’s trigger words such as Falun Gong and Uyghurs, two groups suffering severe persecution in China.