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DeepSeek banned from Australian government devices over national security concerns DeepSeek banned from Australian government devices amid national security concerns
(about 13 hours later)
Home affairs minister Tony Burke says decision follows advice from intelligence agencies and is not impacted by AI chatbot’s country of origin, China Home affairs minister Tony Burke says decision follows advice from intelligence agencies and is not in response to AI chatbot’s country of origin, China
DeepSeek will be banned from all federal government devices as the Albanese government cracks down on the Chinese AI chatbot, citing unspecified national security risks.DeepSeek will be banned from all federal government devices as the Albanese government cracks down on the Chinese AI chatbot, citing unspecified national security risks.
The launch of DeepSeek’s AI generative chatbot rocked US tech stocks last week amid concerns over censorship and data security. The launch of DeepSeek’s AI generative chatbot rocked US tech stocks last week amid concerns about censorship and data security.
The home affairs department secretary signed a directive on Tuesday banning the program from all federal government systems and devices on national security grounds after advice from intelligence agencies that it poses an unacceptable risk. The home affairs department secretary signed a directive on Tuesday banning the program from all federal government systems and devices on national security grounds after advice from intelligence agencies that it posed an unacceptable risk.
The home affairs minister, Tony Burke, said the decision was not impacted by the app’s country of origin – China – but by its risk to the government and its assets. The home affairs minister, Tony Burke, said the decision had not been taken because of the app’s country of origin – China – but because of its risk to the government and its assets.
“The Albanese government is taking swift and decisive action to protect Australia’s national security and national interest,” Burke said.“The Albanese government is taking swift and decisive action to protect Australia’s national security and national interest,” Burke said.
“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.”“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.”
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Government departments and agencies will be required to report back to home affairs as soon as possible to ensure the app does not remain on any devices, and they are prevented from reinstalling it.Government departments and agencies will be required to report back to home affairs as soon as possible to ensure the app does not remain on any devices, and they are prevented from reinstalling it.
The decision comes almost two years after the Albanese government issued its government-wide ban on Chinese social media app TikTok, citing “security and privacy” risks. The decision comes almost two years after the Albanese government issued its government-wide ban on the Chinese social media app TikTok, citing “security and privacy” risks.
The science minister, Ed Husic, said in January he foresaw similar discussions happening over DeepSeek. The science minister, Ed Husic, said in January he foresaw similar discussions happening about DeepSeek.
“I think people will naturally gravitate towards that. I think there’ll be parallels to what you’ve seen with discussion around TikTok that emerge around DeepSeek as well. I wouldn’t be surprised if that emerges,” he said.
Australia is the latest country to ban DeepSeek on government devices, after Taiwan, Italy and some federal US agencies earlier moved to block the app.
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This week, the New South Wales government reportedly banned the app while other state governments were considering options. “I think people will naturally gravitate towards that,” he said. “I think there’ll be parallels to what you’ve seen with discussion around TikTok that emerge around DeepSeek as well.”
A Guardian Australia analysis in January revealed the chatbot did not provide responses to certain political events sensitive to the Chinese government. Australia is the latest country to ban DeepSeek on government devices, after Taiwan, Italy and some federal US agencies moved to block the app.
Unlike other models – including OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini – DeepSeek did not engage when asked about topics such as Tiananmen Square and the Umbrella revolution. It said: “Sorry, that’s beyond my current scope. Let’s talk about something else.” This week the New South Wales government reportedly banned the app while other state governments were considering options.
A Guardian Australia analysis in January revealed that the chatbot did not provide responses to certain political events sensitive to the Chinese government.
Unlike other models – including OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini – DeepSeek did not engage when asked about topics including Tiananmen Square and the Umbrella revolution. It said: “Sorry, that’s beyond my current scope. Let’s talk about something else.”
DeepSeek proved immediately popular on global app stores after launching in January.DeepSeek proved immediately popular on global app stores after launching in January.
On the day it launched, $US1tn was wiped from the leading US tech index. On the day it launched, US$1tn was wiped from the leading US tech index.