Executive Order Bans the Use of DeepSeek

Faculty, staff and affiliates,

We have received an executive order from Governor Youngkin banning the installation and use of DeepSeek, the generative AI tool that Drs Kolvoord, Nowviskie and I recently cautioned you about using, given privacy concerns. The governor is prohibiting the use of DeepSeek on any state or university issued, owned or leased equipment. This includes mobile phones, desktop or laptop computers, tablets or other devices capable of connecting to the internet or while connected to any wired or wireless network owned, operated, or maintained by the Commonwealth. Similar to the governor's executive order 22, related to TikTok and WeChat, this executive order stems from concern about the ownership of these companies and the potential for exposure of personal data.

Given this directive, you must not install these applications on university-owned or leased devices or on a personal device connected to the university networks. If you have installed DeepSeek, you must uninstall it by February 12. Students are not covered by the executive order, and due to this exception, Information Technology is not blocking access to these applications on the networks.

Questions may be directed to me.

Thank you for complying with this new directive.

Robin Bryan, AVP for IT/CIO