Australia Bans DeepSeek on Government Devices Over Security Risks

Australia announced on Tuesday a ban on the Chinese AI startup DeepSeek from all government devices due to security concerns, Reuters reported. The Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs issued a directive prohibiting the use, installation, and retention of DeepSeek products across all government systems.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke emphasized that DeepSeek poses an “unacceptable risk” to national security, prompting the immediate ban to safeguard Australia’s interests. The ban specifically targets government entities and does not extend to private citizens.

This decision follows similar actions taken by Italy and Taiwan, where government departments have also restricted the use of DeepSeek. The company, which launched its services last month, has raised eyebrows in the tech industry due to its low-cost AI offerings, leading to concerns about the implications for Western investments in technology.

Australia’s government previously imposed a ban on the Chinese social media app TikTok over similar security issues.