In a decisive move, Australia has banned DeepSeek from all government devices, citing security risks associated with the Chinese artificial intelligence startup. The ban, announced recently, affects a multitude of government workers, including those in the Australian Electoral Commission and Bureau of Meteorology. This decision follows DeepSeek's stunning debut in January when it unveiled a chatbot that matched the performance level of its US counterparts but claimed to have a much lower training cost.
The Australian government's directive mandates that all government entities "prevent the use or installation of DeepSeek products, applications, and web services." This action forms part of a broader concern regarding data and privacy issues, a sentiment echoed by Australia's science minister earlier in the year who cautioned against DeepSeek. Although the government insists that the ban is not due to the app's Chinese origins, it emphasizes the "unacceptable risk" posed to national security.
DeepSeek's privacy policy has faced scrutiny beyond Australia as well. In Italy, the chatbot was removed from app stores due to privacy concerns. Concurrently, regulators in South Korea, Ireland, and France have initiated investigations into how DeepSeek handles user data, which is stored on servers in China. These investigations are part of a pattern wherein Western countries remain wary of Chinese technology firms, reminiscent of past apprehensions concerning Huawei and TikTok.
In the United States, similar concerns have emerged. The US Navy reportedly banned its members from using DeepSeek, although this has not been confirmed by official sources. Former President Donald Trump described DeepSeek as a "wake-up call" for the US. While acknowledging its potential to lower AI costs, he highlighted the security implications that need careful consideration. The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, stated that the US is actively exploring potential security implications tied to DeepSeek's operations.
Accusations have also surfaced against DeepSeek for allegedly exploiting US technology unfairly. As international scrutiny intensifies, DeepSeek has been approached for comment on these allegations and developments.