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Chinese AI Software DeepSeek Banned on Australian Government Devices Over National Security Concerns

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‘The Government will not hesitate to act when our agencies identify a national security risk.’

Summary

The Australian government has banned the Chinese AI software DeepSeek from all government devices due to national security concerns. This decision aligns with actions by other countries that have restricted Chinese technology, highlighting ongoing global security issues related to AI. DeepSeek is criticized for favoring narratives aligned with the Chinese Communist Party and collecting sensitive personal information, posing a significant privacy risk. The decision underscores Australia's proactive stance in safeguarding its national security and reflects a broader international discourse on managing foreign AI technologies. The move could influence other nations in re-evaluating their AI governance frameworks regarding foreign software.

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The Albanese Government has decided to ban Chinese Artificial Intelligence software DeepSeek citing national security and intelligence concerns. DeepSeek will be removed and restricted from all Australian Government systems and devices, which has already happened with other Chinese apps and products like TikTok and Huawei. Australia joins other nations cracking down on the Chinese AI including Italy, Taiwan and the US state of Texas. A mandatory direction from the Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs has been issued under the Protective Security Policy Framework. The order instructs public servants to identify, remove and prevent access to DeepSeek products, applications and services on all Australian Government systems and mobile devices. Tech experts Cybercx warn DeepSeek produces biased outputs that align with Chinese Communist Party (CCP) strategic objectives and narratives. And the software collects user personal information from their device and prompt information entered by users and stores this information in China. Consumer Warning This direction only applies to Government systems and devices, however, the Government is urging all Australians to ensure they are well informed about how their data can be used online and the steps they can take to understand their online presence and protect their privacy. The Government encourages all users to carefully review each company’s privacy policies which outline how customer data is managed. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke says the Albanese Government “is taking swift and decisive action to protect Australia’s national security and national interest”. “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,” Burke said. “Our approach is country-agnostic and focused on the risk to the Australian Government and our assets.” China’s Government is yet to react to the announcement. DeepSeek impact DeepSeek sent shockwaves around the world and on financial markets when it was released last month. Shares in NVIDIA Corp — a US tech and artificial intelligence company — have crashed from $147 USD to $116 USD. Tech experts say DeepSeek typically performs better for rapid code generation and technical tasks, with faster response times for structured queries, compared with ChatGPT. However, ChatGPT offers more detailed explanations and better documentation.