US government removes chinese AI tool from federal register site

On September 15, 2026, US government officials removed a Chinese AI search tool from the Federal Register website, according to Reuters. The tool, based on Alibaba’s Qwen model, was briefly available for users to search public comments on proposed regulations. The National Archives, which manages the Federal Register, did not comment on the removal or respond to requests for clarification. The FBI had previously named Alibaba among six Chinese firms accused of conducting industrial-scale distillation, a process that allegedly helps China’s AI industry reduce costs and development time. The FBI’s claims came amid reports that the National Archives had deployed the Qwen model, raising questions about the agency’s use of foreign AI technology. The White House and the FBI have not issued statements on the matter. Social media users highlighted the apparent contradiction between the National Archives’ use of the model and the FBI’s allegations against Chinese firms. The exact timeline of the Qwen model’s deployment remains unclear.