Australia has imposed an immediate ban on the use of DeepSeek across all government devices, citing national security concerns.
The directive, announced on Tuesday by the Department of Home Affairs, required the removal of all DeepSeek products, applications, and web services from government systems.
Australia’s Minister for Home Affairs, Tony Burke, defended the ban, stating that it was crucial for safeguarding the country’s national interests.
“DeepSeek poses an unacceptable risk to government technology,” Burke said.
“The ban is essential to protect Australia’s national security and national interest.”
However, the restriction did not extend to private citizens, who remain free to use the new AI chatbot developed in China.
Australia joined a growing list of countries raising concerns about DeepSeek’s data privacy and security risks.
Italy’s privacy regulator recently blocked the AI service after its Chinese developers failed to address concerns about their data policies. Taiwan also issued warnings about potential cross-border data leaks, while regulators in South Korea, Ireland, and France have launched investigations into the chatbot’s data-handling practices.
LEADERSHIP reports that DeepSeek gained international attention with its open-source AI platform, which showcased advanced human-like reasoning. In January, it became the most downloaded free app on the Apple Store, surpassing OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
The rise of DeepSeek has shaken the global tech landscape, particularly in financial markets. Nvidia, the leading chipmaker before the emergence of DeepSeek, saw its market valuation plunged by about $600 billion as investors reacted to the Chinese app’s rapid growth.
The development has also drawn attention from the White House. US President Donald Trump acknowledged China’s AI advancements, describing them as a “wake-up call” for American tech firms. He urged the US industry to accelerate innovation to maintain its global leadership in AI.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt recently confirmed that the US government was evaluating potential national security risks posed by DeepSeek.
