infotech

Four Additional Countries Have Prohibited DeepSeek, Citing Various Reasons For Their Decisions

DeepSeek, an artificial intelligence (AI) developed in China, is increasingly gaining global attention. Several countries have now prohibited the use of DeepSeek due to concerns regarding user data security. Since its launch in January 2025, DeepSeek has become increasingly popular, with its mobile application ranking as the most downloaded app on both the App Store and Google Play Store in the United States. Essentially, DeepSeek operates similarly to other AI chatbots, such as OpenAI's ChatGPT, Google's Gemini, or Anthropic's Claude. This AI is designed to comprehend and respond to a variety of user commands. However, DeepSeek is claimed to be significantly more 'intelligent' than its competitors, and its subscription costs are also lower. Utilizing advanced artificial intelligence technology, this model can process information more swiftly and efficiently. Nevertheless, alongside its impressive capabilities, concerns have arisen regarding how this AI manages user data. DeepSeek is reported to have the ability to collect various sensitive information, including IP addresses, conversation histories, uploaded files, and user keystrokes. According to a report cited by Gizchina, this data is stored on servers operating under Chinese government regulations. This situation has raised global concerns about potential unauthorized surveillance and an increased risk of data breaches. As summarized by KompasTekno, several countries have begun to take decisive action to restrict or even ban the use of DeepSeek. Below is a list of some countries that have prohibited the use of the DeepSeek AI application. 

List of countries that prohibit DeepSeek   

1. Taiwan   

The Ministry of Digital Affairs in Taiwan has announced a ban on the use of DeepSeek within government agencies and infrastructure sectors. This decision was made to safeguard data privacy and national information security. The Taiwanese government is concerned that DeepSeek could access and transfer sensitive data to servers in China, which operate under local government regulations.   

2. Italy   

Italy was among the first countries to impose a ban on DeepSeek. The Italian Data Protection Authority, Garante, officially blocked the application upon discovering serious risks related to user privacy security. DeepSeek is deemed non-compliant with the European Union's data protection standards (GDPR), particularly regarding transparency and user data management. This prohibition underscores Italy's commitment to protecting its citizens' information from potential AI misuse.   

3. United States   

Several agencies and government bodies in the United States have also prohibited and restricted their members from using DeepSeek.   

4. Australia   

Australia has joined the growing list of countries that have banned the use of DeepSeek, particularly on government devices and systems. The rationale aligns with that of several other nations, citing security threats.   

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Tag: Artificial Intelligence DeepSeek