Australia’s AI Crackdown: Government Bans DeepSeek Over Serious Security and Data Privacy Threats. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)
Canberra, Australia (EPICSTORIAN) – Australia has officially banned DeepSeek, a Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) company, from all government devices and systems due to security risks.
Officials stress that the decision is not based on the app’s Chinese origins but on concerns about data privacy and potential cyber threats.
DeepSeek made global headlines in January after launching a chatbot that reportedly matched the capabilities of leading U.S. models at a lower training cost.
DeepSeek Release Triggered Fall in AI-related stocks
The innovation sent shockwaves through financial markets, causing AI-related stocks, including Australian chipmaker Brainchip, to drop significantly.
Government agencies must now prevent the installation or use of DeepSeek applications and web services and remove any previously installed versions from official systems.
The directive affects a broad range of public sector employees, from election officials to meteorologists. It remains unclear whether public schools and other non-federal institutions will also implement the ban. The restrictions do not apply to private citizens.
Kieren McCarthy, a cybersecurity expert at Oxford Information Labs, noted that similar actions are becoming more common. “Governments are increasingly erring on the side of caution when it comes to security risks in new technology. This marks the end of an era where innovation was prioritized over national security concerns,” he said.
Deepening Concerns Over Chinese AI Security
Many Western governments have taken a cautious approach to Chinese technology. Previous cases include restrictions on Huawei and TikTok due to concerns about data security and foreign influence.
DeepSeek initially seemed to be an exception. The chatbot became the most downloaded free app in the U.K. and U.S., with former U.S. President Donald Trump describing it as a “wake-up call” for the American AI industry.
He acknowledged its lower costs as an advantage but warned that careful oversight was necessary.
Concerns over privacy and security have since grown. Australia’s science minister previously warned about potential data risks associated with DeepSeek.Italy removed the chatbot from app stores over privacy policy issues, echoing a similar temporary ban on ChatGPT in 2023.
Regulators in South Korea, Ireland, and France are now investigating how DeepSeek manages user data, which is stored on servers in China.
The U.S. government has also begun evaluating potential security threats. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that authorities are reviewing the risks posed by DeepSeek.
Reports suggest that the U.S. Navy has already restricted its personnel from using the app, although no official statement has been released.
Security experts have warned that AI chatbots, including DeepSeek, OpenAI’s ChatGPT, and Google’s Gemini, collect and store user information such as email addresses and birth dates.
Employees working with sensitive information are advised to be cautious about entering confidential data into AI tools, as these interactions could be stored and analyzed.
Mass Shooting at Swedish Adult Education Center Leaves at Least 10 Dead
DeepSeek has also faced accusations of leveraging U.S. technology unfairly. OpenAI has raised concerns that competing firms, particularly in China, are using its research to accelerate their own AI advancements.
