US Federal Register removes Qwen-based search tool after FBI called Chinese models malicious

The Federal Register removed a search tool built on Alibaba's Qwen model after users noted the contradiction: the FBI calls such models a threat while a US government body used one. The open Qwen3 0.6B model ran locally and processed only public data.

• Qwen tool was available on the site for at least a day and removed Wednesday
• Used open Qwen3 0.6B model running locally without sending data to Alibaba
• FBI previously accused Alibaba of industrial distillation of US models
• Congressman Moolenaar said US agencies should not use Chinese AI models