US Government Website Exposed Using Alibaba Qwen AI Tool for Searches
On.cc · 2 SOURCES1 day ago2 MIN
Summary
A US government website was discovered using Alibaba's Qwen AI model to power its search functionality, sparking security concerns at a time of heightened US-China tensions over artificial intelligence technology. The Federal Register website, operated by the National Archives, offered the Qwen-powered search service for federal regulations and public comments before removing it on September 16. The feature was taken down after discussions emerged on social media platforms about its presence on an official US government site.
Key Points
- The Federal Register website provided a Qwen AI search tool enabling users to search federal regulations and public comments, operational on September 16 before removal
- Daniel Castro, president of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation think tank in Washington, described the use of a Chinese AI model by US officials as "unimaginable" in the context of intense US-China AI competition
- Senator Mark Warner, vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, emphasized that the critical concern is whether US data was transmitted to Alibaba-controlled systems for processing
- AI experts noted that because Federal Register content is public information and Qwen is an open-weight model, it may not immediately pose a significant information security risk
- House China Task Force Chairman Muller Nal stated that federal agencies should not use Chinese AI tools to prevent increased US dependence on Chinese AI models
Why It Matters
The incident exposes a contradiction in Washington's stance, as the US government simultaneously accuses Chinese AI companies of intellectual property theft while its own agencies inadvertently rely on Chinese AI technology. This could undermine US credibility in ongoing technology competition with China andprompt stricter review of government technology procurement policies .
The incident exposes a contradiction in Washington's stance, as the US government simultaneously accuses Chinese AI companies of intellectual property theft while its own agencies inadvertently rely on Chinese AI technology. This could undermine US credibility in ongoing technology competition with China andprompt stricter review of government technology procurement policies .