Australia has moved to block the use of the Chinese artificial intelligence application  DeepSeek across all government devices, citing national security risks. On Tuesday, the Department of Home Affairs issued a directive instructing agencies to eliminate any existing instances of the AI tool and prevent future installations on government systems. The ban aligns with similar actions taken by Italy and Taiwan, which have also restricted DeepSeek due to alleged security concerns.

The decision follows recommendations from national security and intelligence agencies, which flagged DeepSeek as a "potential threat."

The official directive states: "Identify and remove all existing instances of DeepSeek products, applications and services on all Australian government systems and mobile devices ... prevent the access, use or installation of DeepSeek products, applications and services on all Australian government systems and mobile devices."

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke addressed the move, acknowledging AI's potential while reinforcing the government's commitment to security. "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," he stated. He also described DeepSeek as an "unacceptable risk" to government technology, leading to its immediate ban to protect Australia's national interests.

The decision comes after CyberCX, a leading Australian cybersecurity firm, urged government bodies and institutions managing sensitive data to stop using DeepSeek.

The company warned that the AI models behind the application are under the control of the Chinese government, shaping search results to align with the "strategic objectives and narratives" of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

DeepSeek's Rise and Global Scrutiny

DeepSeek, a Chinese firm specializing in large language models, introduced its AI assistant R1 on January 20, marketing it as an alternative to OpenAI's ChatGPT with a more affordable pricing structure. Despite security concerns allegations, the app has gained traction in global markets, ranking among the most downloaded applications in the US, the UK, the UAE, South Korea, and China.

Cybersecurity experts have raised alarms about DeepSeek's potential data privacy risks, warning that user data could be monitored or manipulated by state authorities. Australia's ban does not extend to private citizens, but the government has advised caution regarding its use in sensitive sectors. The approach mirrors earlier actions, such as Australia's ban on TikTok from government devices two years ago due to similar security concerns.

In January, Taiwan's Ministry of Digital Affairs issued a warning to government agencies against using DeepSeek.

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