Several governments are banning DeepSeek AI from official devices, citing serious security risks and data privacy concerns. The AI chatbot, developed by the Chinese startup DeepSeek, has quickly gained popularity, but its data collection practices have raised alarms.
Countries including the United States, South Korea, Australia, Italy, and Taiwan have either restricted or are considering restrictions on its use in government agencies. Officials worry about potential data exposure and links to Chinese state-controlled entities, fueling fears of cybersecurity threats and espionage risks.
DeepSeek is a Chinese AI startup founded in 2023 and is gaining traction for its development of a Chat GPT-like AI chatbot. Its latest model, DeepSeek R1, is said to be cheaper to train when compared to the west.
This has created an upheaval in the AI landscape, with major tech companies feeling the impact. The swift usage of DeepSeek has raised concerns for governments regarding how the platform collects and handles user data.
The United States has taken precautionary steps by blocking DeepSeek on NASA devices and issuing warnings within the Navy about security risks. Lawmakers are also considering legislation to ban the AI on government-owned devices.
South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy temporarily prohibited its use among employees while seeking more clarity on data privacy. Additionally, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, a state-run enterprise, has blocked DeepSeek from worker devices.
In Australia, there is an absolute prohibition of all government systems, as cited by the Department of Home Affairs for security reasons. The Data Protection Authority of Italy has also restrained DeepSeek because of its non-disclosure on how user data is captured.
At the same time, Taiwan followed suit by blocking government departments from utilizing the AI chatbot, citing the same reasons for security concerns.
One DeepSeek issue of concern for these governments is where its data collection policies which includes user email addresses, phone numbers, passwords, chat history and devices are incorporated.
There are rumors that this AI tool might be able to transmit user information to China Mobile, which is a Chinese state owned enterprise. Although this assertion is unwarranted, fear of being watched and spied on is worrisome.
Every government in the West does have restrictions on AI technologies, and these firms are treated differently because of potential governmental involvement. Other China based technology companies have also received such bans in the past due to existing issues with international cybersecurity.