- Australia bans DeepSeek on government devices.
- Officials cite major security risks.
- Other countries also raise concerns.
Australia has officially banned the use of DeepSeek, China’s emerging artificial intelligence chatbot, on all government devices, citing national security risks.
The decision, announced on Tuesday, reflects growing global concerns over the program’s data practices and potential cyber threats.
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DeepSeek, developed by a China-based technology startup, has gained significant attention since its release last month.
Industry insiders have praised its advanced capabilities, while financial markets have reacted to its rapid rise. However, multiple countries, including South Korea, France, and Italy, have raised concerns about its security implications.
Australia’s move is among the strictest taken by any government against the AI tool.
Stephanie Foster, Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs, issued a directive mandating the immediate removal of DeepSeek products, applications, and web services from all Australian government systems and mobile devices.
“After considering threat and risk analysis, I have determined that the use of DeepSeek products poses an unacceptable level of security risk to the Australian Government,” Foster stated in the official directive.
As of Wednesday, all government agencies must not only remove existing instances of DeepSeek but also prevent future access, use, or installation of the chatbot on any government system.
The ban comes amid increasing scrutiny of Chinese technology companies and their influence on global AI development. DeepSeek’s recent claims of achieving performance levels comparable to leading U.S. AI models at a fraction of the cost have raised eyebrows in Silicon Valley.
Some experts suggest DeepSeek may have reverse-engineered American technology, heightening fears of intellectual property theft and cybersecurity vulnerabilities.
In 2018, the Australian government barred Chinese telecom giant Huawei from its 5G network, citing similar security concerns.
That decision contributed to heightened tensions between Canberra and Beijing, which led to a multi-billion-dollar trade dispute that only recently eased.
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While Australia has taken a firm stance, international scrutiny over DeepSeek continues. Several nations remain cautious about the chatbot’s data handling practices, questioning how it collects, processes, and secures sensitive information.
As global governments intensify oversight on AI technologies, Australia’s ban on DeepSeek underscores a broader push to safeguard national security in the face of evolving digital threats.
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