Canberra: On February 6, 2025, reports emerged from Canberra, Australia, indicating that the Australian government has prohibited the Chinese tech firm DeepSeek from offering services on government systems and devices due to national security concerns. The government labeled DeepSeek as an “unacceptable risk” to its operations, leading to the removal of the Chinese AI chatbot from federal computers and mobile devices. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke clarified that the ban was motivated by security threats rather than the app’s country of origin, as reported by the Global Times.
In response, China condemned Australia’s decision, arguing that it represents the “politicisation of economic, trade, and technological issues.” Beijing contends that the ban stems from ideological bias rather than genuine security concerns. Liu Wei, an AI expert from Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, noted that Australia’s actions are similar to those taken by the United States, where federal agencies, including NASA and the Pentagon, have also restricted DeepSeek and other Chinese technologies.
DeepSeek, a rising Chinese AI startup, has garnered attention for its chatbot, which surpassed ChatGPT in downloads on Apple’s iPhone. While the app has received praise for its performance, it has faced criticism for censoring sensitive topics and potential data privacy violations, resulting in its removal from various platforms worldwide. Italy’s data protection authority has also blocked access to the app.
Additionally, South Korea’s finance ministry announced plans to restrict access to DeepSeek, citing concerns over data collection. Similarly, Taiwan’s Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA) has prohibited government employees from using the app, fearing it could compromise sensitive information and expose it to Beijing. The ongoing controversy surrounding DeepSeek underscores the escalating global tensions regarding the use of Chinese technology in both government and private sectors, driven by worries about data security and ideological influence shaping international policies.