Australia Bans DeepSeek AI Chatbot Over Security Concerns
The Australian Home Affairs department has banned the use of DeepSeek, a new AI chatbot that has been making headlines for its rapid rise to popularity. The ban was issued on February 4, 2025, citing an unacceptable level of security risk to the Australian Government.
The policy states that the use of DeepSeek products and web services poses a significant threat to national security due to the extensive collection of data and the exposure of this data to extrajudicial directions from a foreign government that conflict with Australian law.
India’s finance ministry has also warned its employees against using AI tools like DeepSeek and ChatGPT for official purposes, citing the risk to confidential government documents and data.
Similar concerns have been raised in the US, where the US Navy has banned the use of DeepSeek in any capacity due to potential security and ethical concerns. Italy’s data protection authority has also ordered DeepSeek to block its model in the country after the company failed to address the regulator’s privacy policy concerns.
The use of AI chatbots like DeepSeek raises concerns about data privacy and safety. These models collect vast amounts of data from the internet to train their chatbots, and have run into trouble with data privacy laws around the world.
Some AI companies, including OpenAI, have been criticized for their lack of transparency regarding the data they collect and how it is used. This has led to concerns about the potential for individuals to be unaware of what information has been stored about them.
The ban on DeepSeek is a reminder of the need for greater transparency and accountability in the development and use of AI technology. As AI becomes increasingly integrated into our lives, it is essential that we prioritize data privacy and security to protect individuals and national security.