DeepSeek AI is a Chinese artificial intelligence company known for developing advanced language models. These models can generate human-like text and have various applications, including content creation, translation, and automation.
However, several countries and government agencies have banned or restricted the use of DeepSeek AI due to security and privacy concerns. Many governments fear the model could collect sensitive user data and potentially share it with Chinese authorities.
In this article, we will explore the list of countries and government agencies that have banned DeepSeek AI.
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What is DeepSeek AI? A Brief Overview
Source: Radio Free Asia
DeepSeek AI is a Chinese artificial intelligence company specialising in open-source large language models (LLMs). Founded in 2023 by Liang Wenfeng, it operates under the ownership of High-Flyer, a quantitative hedge fund based in Hangzhou, China.
The company’s flagship product, DeepSeek-R1, is designed for reasoning, coding, and problem-solving tasks. As an open-source tool, it is accessible via the web and can be deployed locally, making it available to organisations of all sizes.
DeepSeek’s AI Assistant, powered by DeepSeek-V3, has gained significant popularity, surpassing rival ChatGPT to become the top-rated free application on Apple’s App Store in the United States.
The company has attracted attention in global AI circles after reporting that the training of DeepSeek-V3 required less than $6 million worth of computing power from Nvidia H800 chips, highlighting its cost-effective approach to AI development.
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Why are Countries Banning DeepSeek AI?
Source: Information Age | ACS
Many countries have either fully or partially banned DeepSeek AI due to concerns over data privacy, potential security risks, and the possibility of data ending up in the hands of the Chinese government.
DeepSeek’s privacy policy states that user data is stored on servers in China, where local laws mandate that organisations share data with intelligence officials upon request.
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List of Countries and Government Agencies That Have Banned DeepSeek AI
Countries that have banned or restricted DeepSeek AI:
- Italy: Was one of the first countries to ban DeepSeek AI over concerns about the handling of user data and compliance with EU data protection laws. The Italian Data Protection Authority (DPA) investigated DeepSeek’s data collection practices and removed the AI platform from app stores in the country.
- Taiwan: Has banned the use of DeepSeek AI across all public sector organisations, including public schools, state-owned enterprises, and critical infrastructure. The Ministry of Digital Affairs cited concerns about cross-border data transmission and information leaks as the reason for the ban.
- Australia: The Australian government has banned its employees from using the DeepSeek AI chatbot on government devices. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke stated that a national intelligence assessment found the AI platform to pose an unacceptable security risk.
- South Korea: The defence ministry has blocked DeepSeek from accessing its internet-connected military computers. This action was taken after the country’s personal information protection commission requested clarity on DeepSeek’s management of user information.
- United States: The American Navy has restricted the use of DeepSeek, and Texas was the first state to ban the Chinese AI app. Several federal agencies have instructed employees against accessing DeepSeek, and “hundreds of companies” have requested their enterprise cybersecurity firms to block access to the app.
- India: The Ministry of Finance has banned the use of DeepSeek by its employees. The central government has prohibited its employees from using AI tools and applications such as DeepSeek and ChatGPT on office computers and devices.
Government Agencies That Have Banned DeepSeek AI
- Union Finance Ministry (India): The Indian Finance Ministry has warned its staff not to use AI tools like DeepSeek and ChatGPT. The ministry believes these tools could risk exposing sensitive government data. A notice issued in January stated that AI apps on office computers may compromise the confidentiality of official documents.
- US Congress: Lawmakers in the US Congress have been advised against using DeepSeek AI due to security concerns. Officials warned that hackers could use DeepSeek to spread harmful software. To prevent this, Congress has restricted DeepSeek’s functions on all official devices, and staff members are not allowed to install the app on their work devices.
- US Navy: The US Navy has banned its personnel from using DeepSeek AI, citing security and ethical risks. An internal directive stated that members should not use DeepSeek for work or personal tasks and must avoid downloading or installing its apps.
- Pentagon: The US Department of Defence has blocked access to DeepSeek AI at the Pentagon since January. The decision was made after concerns that employees were using the app without proper approval. However, some officials can still access AI tools through an authorised platform that ensures data is not stored on foreign servers.
- NASA: The US space agency has prohibited its employees from using DeepSeek AI on government devices and networks. A memo instructed staff not to access the AI tool using NASA computers or agency-managed internet connections.
- Texas Government: The Governor of Texas has banned DeepSeek AI and other Chinese-developed AI software from all government-issued devices. The decision aims to prevent foreign entities from gathering data through AI applications and protect the state’s critical infrastructure.
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Are There Any Alternative AI Tools That Have Been Recommended Instead of Deepseek?
Several AI tools have been recommended as alternatives to DeepSeek1. Here are some of the top alternatives mentioned in the search results:
- Chatsonic: An AI agent for marketing that combines multiple AI models like GPT-4o, Claude, and Gemini with marketing tools. It is suited for SEO professionals, content marketers, and businesses seeking an all-in-one AI-powered SEO and content optimisation solution.
- ChatGPT: An AI language model developed by OpenAI that is suitable for individuals, businesses, and enterprises for content creation, customer support, data analysis, and task automation.
- Claude Ai: Developed by Anthropic, Claude 3.5 is an AI assistant with advanced language processing, code generation, and ethical AI capabilities. It is suited for enterprises, developers, researchers, and content creators.
- Perplexity AI: An AI-powered search and research platform that combines multiple AI models with real-time data access. It is best suited for researchers, data analysts, content creators, and professionals seeking an AI-powered search and analysis tool with real-time information access and advanced data processing capabilities.
- Qwen 2.5: Developed by Alibaba, Qwen 2.5, especially the Qwen 2.5-Max variant, is a scalable AI solution for complex language processing and data analysis tasks. It is suited for enterprise-level organisations and AI developers.
- LM-Kit.NET: A cross-platform SDK designed to integrate Generative AI capabilities into .NET applications, enabling developers to build features such as text generation, chatbots, and content retrieval systems.
