According to Reuters, the Australian government has decided to ban the DeepSeek application on all government-owned devices due to security concerns. This decision was made by the Australian Department of Home Affairs, which requires all government agencies to uninstall and prevent the use of DeepSeek on all systems and devices.
Australia Decides to Ban DeepSeek on Government Devices
Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke stated that DeepSeek “poses an unacceptable risk” to government technology, and this ban is to “protect Australia’s national security and national interests.” However, the ban does not apply to personal devices of citizens.
DeepSeek, a Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) startup, caused a stir in the tech world when it launched last month. The application is said to have significantly lower development costs compared to other AI models and uses less complex chips, raising questions about the efficiency of Western investments in this field.
Australia’s decision to ban DeepSeek follows similar actions in Italy and Taiwan. Many other countries in Europe and around the world are also considering similar measures against this AI company. Previously, Australia also banned the TikTok app on government devices due to security concerns.
This decision reflects the growing concern among nations about technologies originating from China, especially amid increasing technological competition and geopolitical tensions. Protecting national security and government data has become a top priority for many countries worldwide.