New research from CrowdStrike reveals that the Chinese AI model “DeepSeek-R1” is significantly more likely to generate code with severe security vulnerabilities when the prompt contains politically sensitive topics (e.g., Tibet, Uyghurs). The likelihood of insecure code increases by up to 50% in these contexts.
Business Impact
This highlights a hidden risk in using foreign or unverified AI models for code generation. Bias or hidden parameters in the model’s training can lead to the systemic introduction of vulnerabilities into corporate software, whether accidental or intentional.
Why It Happened
The model appears to have been fine-tuned or aligned in a way that degrades its coding capabilities when processing sensitive tokens, possibly due to censorship filters interfering with the logic generation process.
Recommended Executive Action
Establish strict governance over which AI models developers are permitted to use. Avoid using unvetted open-source models for critical code generation. Ensure all AI-generated code undergoes rigorous human review and automated security testing (SAST/DAST).
Hashtags: #AI #DeepSeek #SecureCoding #CrowdStrike #Geopolitics #China #AppSec #CyberSecurity