February 12, 2025

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Australia bans DeepSeek on government devices due to security concerns

Australia has banned DeepSeek from all government devices and systems, citing security risks posed by the Chinese AI startup. DeepSeek made headlines in January when it launched a chatbot that rivaled US competitors, claiming lower training costs. The announcement led to a significant drop in global stock markets, including in Australia, where AI-linked stocks, like chipmaker Brainchip, saw sharp declines.

The Australian government insists that the ban is not related to DeepSeek’s Chinese origins but rather to the “unacceptable risk” it poses to national security. The ban mandates that government entities prevent the use or installation of DeepSeek products, applications, and services, as well as remove any already installed on government systems and devices. This affects a wide range of government workers, including those at the Australian Electoral Commission and Bureau of Meteorology. However, it remains unclear whether the ban extends to public sector computers in other areas, such as schools. Private citizens’ devices are not impacted.

Cyber intelligence expert Kieren McCarthy noted that this approach is becoming more common among governments when security concerns arise, adding a political dimension to new technology.

Western nations have long been wary of Chinese tech, with previous restrictions on companies like Huawei and TikTok due to national security concerns. Initially, DeepSeek’s rise seemed different, with former President Trump viewing it as a “wake-up call” for the US, though he acknowledged potential benefits if it reduced AI costs. However, concerns have since emerged. An Australian science minister warned in January about potential data and privacy risks associated with DeepSeek.

The chatbot was removed from app stores in Italy after privacy issues were raised. Meanwhile, regulators in South Korea, Ireland, and France are investigating how DeepSeek handles user data, which is stored in China. The White House is also examining possible security risks, and reports suggest the US Navy has banned its members from using the app, though this has not been confirmed.

Experts have pointed out that all AI tools, including DeepSeek, analyze user inputs to improve their products, raising concerns about data privacy, especially for those in sensitive or national security roles. Additionally, DeepSeek faces accusations of unfairly leveraging US technology, with OpenAI complaining that its work is being used by Chinese competitors to rapidly advance their own AI products.