Australia Bans DeepSeek on Government Devices

Australia has officially banned DeepSeek from all government devices, citing national security risks posed by the Chinese AI startup.

DeepSeek made waves in January when it unveiled a chatbot that rivaled top U.S. models but claimed to have been developed at a fraction of the cost. The news sent shockwaves through global markets, wiping billions off the value of AI-related stocks—including Australia’s own chipmaker, Brainchip.

The government insists this ban isn’t about DeepSeek’s Chinese origins but rather the "unacceptable risk" it presents to national security. The restriction means no government entity—whether it’s the Australian Electoral Commission or the Bureau of Meteorology—can install, use, or even keep the AI tool on any government system or device.

What about schools or other public-sector computers? That’s still a bit unclear. But private citizens remain free to use DeepSeek on their personal devices.

Cybersecurity expert Kieren McCarthy says this move is part of a growing trend where governments prioritize security over the free adoption of new technologies. “It adds a political dimension to all new tech and heralds an end to the days when technology was king,” he explains.

For now, DeepSeek has yet to respond to the ban. But this decision signals that when it comes to AI, governments worldwide are taking no chances.