Australia Bans DeepSeek AI On Government Devices Citing Security Risks

• 05 Feb 2025
• TM Team
• 0 Comments

Australia has issued an immediate ban on the use of DeepSeek, a Chinese artificial intelligence startup, across all government devices over national security concerns, officials confirmed on Tuesday.

The Department of Home Affairs mandated that all government entities “prevent the use or installation of DeepSeek products, applications and web services.” Existing instances of the technology are to be identified and removed from all government systems and devices.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke described the AI platform as an “unacceptable risk” to Australia’s national security. He stated that the decisive action was necessary to safeguard the nation’s technological infrastructure.

“The immediate ban is to protect Australia’s national security and national interest,” Burke was quoted as saying by several Australian media outlets.

The directive, however, does not apply to personal devices owned by private citizens.

DeepSeek, launched last month, has raised eyebrows internationally for its low operational costs and the ability to function without high-end chips, unlike many Western AI models. The company’s rapid rise has triggered concerns about its potential influence and vulnerabilities.

Australia’s move follows a similar decision by Taiwan earlier this week, which banned the technology across government departments. Italy has already imposed restrictions, and other European nations are reportedly evaluating the risks associated with the AI firm.

The controversy surrounding DeepSeek has caused turbulence in global tech markets, with stocks in major chipmakers and data centres facing sharp declines amid fears of intensified competition.

This is not the first time Australia has acted against Chinese technology over security fears. Two years ago, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government imposed a nationwide ban on the social media app TikTok across government devices, citing similar concerns.

As AI technology continues to evolve, governments worldwide are grappling with the challenge of striking a balance between harnessing innovation and safeguarding national security. Australia’s firm stance underscores the growing importance of robust cybersecurity strategies in an increasingly interconnected world.