Australia Bans China’s DeepSeek On Gov’t Devices Over Security Risks
Australia has implemented an immediate ban on DeepSeek, a Chinese-developed AI tool, across all government devices due to national security concerns. The directive, announced on Tuesday by the Department of Home Affairs, mandates the removal of all DeepSeek products, applications, and web services from government systems.
Minister for Home Affairs, Tony Burke, defended the decision, stressing that DeepSeek posed an unacceptable risk to government technology. He emphasized the importance of the ban for safeguarding Australia’s national security and interests.
The ban, however, does not extend to private citizens, who are still free to use the AI chatbot.
Australia joins a growing list of countries expressing concerns about the security and privacy risks associated with DeepSeek. Italy recently blocked the AI service due to data policy issues, and Taiwan issued warnings about potential data leaks. Other countries such as South Korea, Ireland, and France have also launched investigations into DeepSeek’s data-handling practices.
DeepSeek gained international attention for its open-source AI platform that demonstrated advanced human-like reasoning. In January, it became the most downloaded free app on the Apple Store, surpassing OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
The rapid rise of DeepSeek has disrupted the global tech market. Nvidia, once the leading chipmaker, saw its market value drop by $600 billion as investors reacted to the app’s sudden growth. The development has also caught the attention of the US government. President Donald Trump acknowledged China’s AI advancements, calling them a “wake-up call” for American tech firms, and urged the US to accelerate its AI innovation to maintain global leadership.
The White House has confirmed that the US government is currently evaluating the potential national security risks posed by DeepSeek.
