Australia has officially banned the use of DeepSeek, a Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, on all government devices and systems. Authorities stated that the move was necessary due to “unacceptable security risks” associated with the app, though they denied that the decision was based on its Chinese origins.
DeepSeek made global headlines in January when it unveiled a chatbot that rivaled top US AI models while boasting significantly lower training costs. However, concerns over data security and privacy have since grown, prompting several countries to scrutinize the platform.
Ban Covers Government Entities and Public Agencies
The ban applies to all Australian government agencies, requiring them to:
- Prevent the installation and use of DeepSeek products, applications, and web services.
- Remove any previously installed versions from government devices and systems.
This means employees across various sectors—including the Australian Electoral Commission and the Bureau of Meteorology—will no longer be able to access DeepSeek on their work devices. However, it remains unclear whether the restrictions will extend to public-sector computers in other fields, such as education.
The ban does not affect private citizens, who can still use DeepSeek on their personal devices.
Western Countries Remain Wary of Chinese Tech
Australia’s decision follows a pattern of Western governments restricting Chinese technology over security concerns. Similar actions have been taken against companies like Huawei and TikTok in the past.
Initially, DeepSeek received a mixed response internationally. Former US President Donald Trump called its development a “wake-up call” for America but suggested it could be beneficial if it led to lower AI costs.
However, scrutiny has since intensified. Italy removed DeepSeek from app stores over privacy policy concerns, while regulators in South Korea, Ireland, and France have launched investigations into its data-handling practices. Reports suggest that the US Navy has also banned its personnel from using the chatbot, though official confirmation has not been provided.
Security Risks of AI Chatbots
AI tools like DeepSeek, ChatGPT, and Google Gemini analyze user inputs to enhance their models. This means they collect and store certain user data, such as email addresses and birth dates.
Security experts have warned that anyone working with confidential or sensitive information should be cautious about using AI chatbots, as any data entered could be stored and accessed by developers.
Additionally, DeepSeek has faced allegations of using US-developed AI technology unfairly. OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, has accused Chinese firms of leveraging its research to fast-track their own AI advancements.
Australia’s Move Adds to Global AI Debate
Kieren McCarthy, a cyber intelligence expert from Oxford Information Labs, noted that governments are increasingly banning tech products when security risks arise.
“This adds a political dimension to all new tech and heralds an end to the days when technology was king,” he said.
As AI tools continue to evolve, global governments will likely intensify their oversight, ensuring that innovation does not come at the cost of national security.
The Information is Collected from BBC and CNN.
