• Australia has banned DeepSeek from all government devices due to national security concerns, following similar actions by Italy and Taiwan.
  • DeepSeek’s AI model is significantly cheaper and requires less advanced chips, raising concerns over Western investments in semiconductor technology.

Australia has banned DeepSeek from all government devices, citing national security risks associated with the Chinese artificial intelligence startup. The decision, announced on Tuesday, was issued through a mandatory directive by the Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs.

The directive instructs all government entities to

“prevent the use or installation of DeepSeek products, applications and web services and where found remove all existing instances of DeepSeek products, applications and web services from all Australian Government systems and devices.”

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke emphasized the severity of the threat posed by DeepSeek, describing it as an “unacceptable risk” to government technology. He stated that the immediate ban was necessary “to protect Australia’s national security and national interest,” according to reports from several Australian media outlets.

While the ban applies strictly to government devices, private citizens remain unaffected. The move aligns with similar restrictions imposed by other nations, with Italy having recently taken action against DeepSeek. Taiwan also implemented a ban on the AI platform for government departments earlier this week.

The controversy surrounding DeepSeek intensified after its launch last month, which sent shockwaves through the global tech industry. The startup’s the model reportedly operates at a fraction of the cost of its competitors while requiring less advanced semiconductor chips. This development raised concerns over the substantial investments Western nations have made in chip manufacturers and data centers.

Australia’s decision reflects a broader pattern of increasing scrutiny over Chinese technology firms. In 2023, the government banned the use of the Chinese social media platform TikTok on government devices over similar security concerns. With other countries in Europe and beyond also evaluating restrictions on DeepSeek, the AI firm faces mounting global scrutiny.

Edited by Harshajit Sarmah