Australia Bans Chinese AI DeepSeek Over Security Concerns
Australia has officially banned DeepSeek, an artificial intelligence (AI) tool from China, from all government systems and devices. According to the BBC, the Australian government says the decision is not because DeepSeek is from China but due to serious security risks.
DeepSeek shocked the world in January when it introduced an AI chatbot that performed as well as American competitors but at a much lower cost. This caused panic in stock markets globally, wiping out billions of dollars in value, including losses for Australian AI-related companies like Brainchip, according to the BBC.
Now, the Australian government has ordered all government agencies to stop using DeepSeek, delete any existing installations, and block access to its services. This affects workers in various departments, including the Australian Electoral Commission and the Bureau of Meteorology. However, private citizens are still allowed to use it. The BBC reports that it’s unclear whether schools and other public sector institutions will also be affected.
Cybersecurity experts say this ban is part of a growing trend where governments avoid technologies that could pose security risks. Kieren McCarthy from Oxford Information Labs told the BBC that political concerns are now shaping how new technology is handled, rather than just focusing on innovation.
A Pattern of Distrust Toward Chinese Tech
This isn’t the first time Western governments have restricted Chinese technology over security fears. The BBC reminds us that similar actions were taken against Huawei (a telecom company) and TikTok (a social media platform). At first, DeepSeek was treated differently, with former U.S. President Donald Trump even calling it a “wake-up call” for America and suggesting it could be good if it lowered AI costs.
However, concerns soon emerged. In January, Australia’s science minister warned that countries should be careful about DeepSeek, especially regarding data privacy. The BBC reports that Italy even removed the chatbot from app stores due to privacy issues, just like it previously did with ChatGPT in 2023.
Several other countries, including South Korea, Ireland, and France, are now investigating how DeepSeek handles user data. The BBC says this is a big concern because DeepSeek stores data in China, which some fear could be accessed by the Chinese government. Even the White House has announced that the U.S. is now looking into the security risks.
The BBC also notes that the U.S. Navy has reportedly banned its members from using DeepSeek, although officials haven’t confirmed it.
What’s the Real Risk?
Like ChatGPT and Google Gemini, DeepSeek collects data from users to improve its AI model. The BBC explains that this includes information like email addresses and birthdates. However, security experts warn that anyone working with sensitive or classified information should be cautious, as AI companies can access and analyze user inputs.
There are also allegations that DeepSeek has taken unfair advantage of U.S. technology. The BBC reports that OpenAI has accused Chinese firms of using its research to advance their own AI systems at an unusually fast pace.
This situation highlights the ongoing tension between technological advancement and national security. The BBC suggests that as AI grows more powerful, governments worldwide will likely continue restricting tools they believe could pose risks.
Credit : BBC
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8d95v0nr1yo