Australia bans DeepSeek from government devices citing national security

Australia has become the latest nation to take action against DeepSeek, a Chinese AI chatbot, by banning the program from all federal government devices. The Albanese government issued this directive following advice from intelligence agencies, citing national security risks linked to the app. The decision comes amidst growing global concerns about the chatbot’s potential threat to data security and its ability to censor sensitive information.

The Home Affairs Department secretary signed the directive on Tuesday, marking a firm stance against DeepSeek’s integration into government systems. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke made it clear that the decision was not based on the app’s Chinese origins but on the specific risks it posed to government assets and operations. He stressed that while AI holds vast potential, the government would not hesitate to act when national security concerns arose.

A wider global crackdown

This move follows similar actions taken by other countries. Taiwan, Italy, and some US federal agencies have already blocked DeepSeek on government devices, and now the New South Wales government in Australia has followed suit, with other states reportedly considering similar measures. The ban has sparked a wider conversation about the risks of AI-driven tools and their potential to be used for surveillance or manipulation, especially in the context of geopolitical tensions.

The Australian government has mandated that all departments and agencies report back to Home Affairs to confirm that DeepSeek is no longer installed on any devices and ensure it cannot be reinstalled. This action mirrors Australia’s previous stance against the Chinese social media app TikTok, which was banned from government devices almost two years ago due to security and privacy concerns.

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DeepSeek’s censorship and popularity

DeepSeek’s launch in January saw it quickly rise to popularity on global app stores. However, an analysis in January by Guardian Australia revealed that the chatbot was programmed to avoid sensitive political topics, such as the Tiananmen Square massacre and the Umbrella Revolution. When asked about these topics, the bot responded by saying, “Sorry, that’s beyond my current scope. Let’s talk about something else.” This selective censorship has raised further alarms about the chatbot’s potential for political influence, particularly in light of its Chinese origins.

The bot’s rapid rise in popularity also had significant financial consequences. On its launch day, the app’s impact on the market was stark, with US$1 trillion wiped from the leading US tech index. This has only added to the concerns surrounding the chatbot’s potential influence, with experts warning that its widespread use could have far-reaching implications for both privacy and security.

As the Australian government moves swiftly to protect its national security interests, the global debate about AI, censorship, and data privacy continues to intensify.