Australia has moved to ban the use of Deepseek, a Chinese artificial intelligence initiative, across government devices and networks. The decision, described by officials as a security precaution, comes after a period of intense scrutiny of foreign AI tools that could access sensitive government data. Reuters documented the development, highlighting how the move signals a growing caution about how strategic AI technologies should be integrated into public sector operations.
A formal directive issued by the Interior Minister orders every department and agency to prevent any deployment of Deepseek products, applications, and web services. It also requires the removal of all existing instances of these tools from government systems and devices and blocks any future installation or integration. The order spans central, state, and local levels, ensuring a unified stance across the public sector and avoiding gaps that could be exploited by foreign tech providers.
Interior Minister Tony Burke explained that Deepseek presents an unacceptable risk to government technologies and national data ecosystems. Australian media have quoted officials saying the ban is meant to shield national security and Australia’s broader interests from potential foreign influence or unauthorized data access.
The ban does not extend to personal devices used by individuals, but it does bar the use of Deepseek within government networks, systems, and official resources. This distinction keeps day to day personal use outside the scope of official policy while prioritizing the safety of public information assets.
Market observers noted that the Deepseek launch coincided with a dip in shares for several technology companies as investors weighed the implications for AI deployment, chip supply, and the costs of running large-scale data centers. Analysts pointed to the relatively low cost of developing the model and looser hardware requirements as factors that could influence corporate strategies in the West, prompting questions about long term feasibility for Western chipmakers and data processing infrastructure.
Australia’s decision to restrict Deepseek follows similar steps in Italy, where officials have taken action against its use in public systems. Other European nations and regions are weighing the AI company’s activities, and Taiwan has already moved to ban Deepseek in state departments as part of a broader security-focused review of foreign AI tools.
Earlier reports described a Deepseek analogue created at a fraction of the cost, with some sources suggesting developmental milestones could be achieved for around $30. This note underscores how quickly AI tools can scale and why policymakers are racing to keep pace with rapid technological advances while safeguarding national interests.