Australia has banned the Chinese AI startup DeepSeek from all government devices and systems, citing an “unacceptable risk” to national security.
The chatbot, which made headlines in January for matching US rivals at a lower training cost, triggered stock market losses globally, including in Australia.
While the government denies the ban is due to DeepSeek’s Chinese origins, it follows growing international scrutiny over its data privacy policies, with investigations underway in Italy, South Korea, Ireland, and France.
The ban applies to all government agencies but does not extend to private citizens.
Security experts warn that AI tools store and analyse user data, raising concerns for those handling sensitive information.
The US is also reportedly reviewing potential security risks, with the Navy allegedly prohibiting its use.
