Australia Bans Chinese AI Firm DeepSeek from Government Devices Over Security Concerns

Australia has banned DeepSeek, a Chinese artificial intelligence startup, from all government devices due to national security risks. The Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs issued a directive ordering all government entities to prevent the use of DeepSeek products and remove any existing installations from official systems.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke described the AI firm as posing an “unacceptable risk” to government technology, emphasizing that the immediate ban is necessary to safeguard Australia’s national security and interests. However, the restriction does not apply to private citizens.

DeepSeek gained global attention last month after launching an AI model that operates at a fraction of the cost of its Western rivals and requires less advanced chips. The move raised concerns about the future of Western investments in chipmakers and data centers, causing a sharp decline in global tech stocks.

Australia’s ban follows similar action by Italy, with other European and international governments now reviewing potential risks associated with DeepSeek’s technology.