Australia has announced a ban on DeepSeek, the Chinese artificial intelligence chatbot, from all federal government devices and systems, citing national security concerns.
The directive, signed by the home affairs department secretary, requires immediate removal of the AI application from government systems and prevents future installations across federal agencies, including the Australian Electoral Commission and Bureau of Meteorology.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke emphasized that the decision stems from security risks rather than the app's Chinese origins. "AI is a technology full of potential and opportunity – but the government will not hesitate to act when our agencies identify a national security risk," Burke stated.
The ban comes after DeepSeek's January launch, which saw the chatbot match the capabilities of US competitors while claiming lower training costs. The release caused market turbulence, wiping billions off tech stocks globally.
Security experts have raised concerns about DeepSeek's data handling practices, particularly its storage of user information on Chinese servers. The app has already faced scrutiny from regulators in multiple countries, with Italy temporarily removing it from app stores over privacy policy questions. Taiwan's Ministry of Digital Affairs has also prohibited government agencies from using DeepSeek's artificial intelligence technology, citing national security concerns over the Chinese-made AI service.
The Australian restriction applies only to government devices and systems - private citizens can continue using the application. However, cybersecurity officials advise caution when using the platform, warning about potential data vulnerabilities.
Australia joins other nations like Taiwan and Italy in restricting DeepSeek on government devices. The New South Wales government has reportedly implemented similar measures, while other state governments are evaluating their positions.
The move follows Australia's previous ban of TikTok on government devices in 2023, reflecting growing concerns about Chinese technology platforms and their potential security implications.