Australia has announced a ban on the Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek from all government devices, citing national security concerns. The government issued a mandatory directive requiring all federal agencies to prevent the use or installation of DeepSeek’s products, applications, and web services on government systems. Any existing instances of these services must also be removed, according to a statement released by the Department of Home Affairs.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke described DeepSeek as posing an “unacceptable risk” to government technology, with the ban being enforced to protect the nation’s security and interests. The move was made swiftly, responding to growing concerns regarding the startup’s potential vulnerabilities.
This ban does not apply to private citizens, only targeting government-operated systems. The decision follows a broader international trend, with several other countries, including Italy and Taiwan, also taking steps to restrict DeepSeek’s influence. Taiwan recently banned government departments from using the company’s services, while Italy imposed similar measures.
The launch of DeepSeek has raised alarms in the tech industry, particularly with its low cost and minimal hardware requirements compared to rival AI models. The startup’s emergence has led to significant market volatility, with global tech stocks experiencing declines as investors question the viability of Western investments in AI infrastructure.
Australia’s action is part of its broader efforts to tighten control over foreign technology, following its previous ban of the Chinese social media app TikTok on government devices two years ago over similar security concerns.