Australia Bans DeepSeek on Government Devices Due to Security Concerns

Australia has officially prohibited the use of DeepSeek on all government devices and systems, citing security concerns related to the Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) application.

DeepSeek made headlines in January when it launched a chatbot that rivaled the capabilities of similar products from US companies while claiming significantly lower training costs.

The announcement caused a notable downturn in stock markets worldwide, including in Australia, where shares connected to AI advancements, like Brainchip, experienced a sharp decline overnight.

The Australian government emphasized that the ban does not stem from DeepSeek's Chinese origins but from the "unacceptable risk" it poses to national security.

The government directive mandates that all public sector organizations must "prevent the use or installation of DeepSeek's products, applications, and web services" and require the removal of any existing installations on government systems or devices.

This ban affects a broad range of employees, including those at institutions like the Australia Electoral Commission and the Bureau of Meteorology. It is unclear, however, whether the ban will apply to devices used in other sectors like education.

Private citizens are not affected by this ban.

Kieren McCarthy, a representative from the cyber intelligence firm Oxford Information Labs, remarked, "This is increasingly the approach adopted by governments whenever there is any question over security. It adds a political dimension to all new tech and signifies a shift away from the era when technology ruled supreme."

Ongoing Concerns About Security

Western nations historically harbor suspicion toward Chinese technology, as evidenced by previous restrictions on companies like Huawei and TikTok due to national security concerns.

Initially, the response to DeepSeek seemed more favorable. Former President Donald Trump referred to it as a "wake-up call" for the US but suggested that it could be beneficial if it led to lower costs in AI development.

However, reservations have since developed. An Australian science minister expressed caution earlier this year, noting that countries should be "very careful" with DeepSeek due to issues surrounding data and privacy.

The chatbot has faced scrutiny in various countries, with Italy temporarily removing it from app stores after doubts arose about its privacy practices. Earlier in 2023, the Italian government also briefly blocked ChatGPT for similar privacy reasons.

Regulators in South Korea, Ireland, and France have begun looking into DeepSeek's user data management, particularly concerning its data storage in China. Additionally, the White House has indicated it is exploring potential security implications of the app.

Reports suggest that the US Navy has also banned DeepSeek among its personnel, although this has not been officially confirmed.

Security experts warn that users of AI tools, including DeepSeek, should understand the risks of entering sensitive information since these applications typically analyze prompts to enhance their services. This analysis is common across various AI platforms, including ChatGPT and Google Gemini.

DeepSeek faces criticism for allegedly leveraging US technologies unfairly; OpenAI has raised concerns about competitors, including those in China, utilizing its innovations to advance their offerings rapidly.

Australia, DeepSeek, AI