Australia Bans DeepSeek on Government Devices

Australia has officially banned the use of DeepSeek, a Chinese artificial intelligence program, on all government devices, citing significant security concerns.

In an order issued on Tuesday, Stephanie Foster, Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs, stated that DeepSeek products and services pose an unacceptable level of risk to national security.

Following a threat and risk analysis, Foster directed all non-corporate Commonwealth entities to identify and remove any existing DeepSeek applications, web services, or products from Australian government systems and mobile devices.

Effective Wednesday, the directive mandates a complete prohibition on the access, use, and installation of DeepSeek across all government platforms.

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This move aligns with a growing global scrutiny of Chinese AI firms, as several countries have raised concerns over data privacy and security risks associated with DeepSeek’s operations.

DeepSeek made headlines last month when it unveiled its R1 chatbot, claiming it could rival leading AI models from the United States—at a fraction of the cost.

This announcement sparked concerns among global cybersecurity experts and government agencies, who questioned how the company handles personal data and what information is used to train its AI systems.

Australia now joins a list of nations—including South Korea, Ireland, France, and Italy—that have taken a closer look at DeepSeek’s data practices. These concerns are part of a broader international effort to regulate AI development and protect sensitive information from potential misuse.

The decision to ban DeepSeek reflects the increasing tensions between China and Western nations over technology, cybersecurity, and data governance. Many governments are tightening restrictions on foreign AI firms, fearing that sensitive data could be accessed or manipulated by state-backed entities.