Australia, South Korea among Asian countries cracking down on DeepSeek

Government bodies ban Chinese startup from work computers over security worries

Governments in Asia are restricting the use of DeepSeek, an AI model developed in China, citing security risks due to its collection of user data. © Reuters

STEVEN BOROWIEC and SHAUN TURTON

February 6, 2025 13:40 JST

Updated on February 6, 2025 16:13 JST

SEOUL/SYDNEY -- Governments across Asia are restricting their use of DeepSeek's artificial intelligence services due to security concerns, following the Chinese startup's industry-shaking claims that it has developed high-performing AI models extremely cheaply.

Australia's Department of Home Affairs on Tuesday banned DeepSeek from government devices, saying it posed an "unacceptable level of security risk." The department said government entities must manage the risk of DeepSeek's "extensive collection of data," and "exposure of that data to extrajudicial directions from a foreign government that conflict with Australian law."