Recently, the Australian government announced a comprehensive ban on the use of the DeepSeek artificial intelligence program on all government computers and mobile devices. This decision stems from concerns that the software poses an "unacceptable risk" to national security.

Image Source Note: Image generated by AI, image licensed by Midjourney

DeepSeek, developed by a Chinese tech startup, has garnered significant attention since its launch last month due to its robust capabilities. The Australian Department of Home Affairs, led by Secretary Stephanie Foster, issued the directive stating that an analysis of potential threats indicated that the use of DeepSeek products, applications, and online services would create substantial security challenges for the government.

Starting Wednesday, the directive mandates that all non-corporate federal agencies must identify and eliminate all DeepSeek products and applications from Australian government systems and mobile devices. Furthermore, it requires the blocking of access to, usage of, or installation of DeepSeek products on government devices moving forward.

Australia is not alone in its apprehension regarding DeepSeek. Countries such as South Korea, Italy, and France have also raised concerns about the security and data processing methods employed by the program. DeepSeek claimed that its newly launched R1 model rivals top AI products from the United States, albeit at a considerably lower cost. This assertion has elicited a strong response from Silicon Valley, where many view DeepSeek’s performance and cost as a potential threat to American developers.

Moreover, experts have accused DeepSeek of potentially reverse-engineering technologies from leading American products, notably those related to OpenAI's ChatGPT. As scrutiny of DeepSeek's services escalates globally, Australia's decision represents one of the most severe actions taken by any government in response to these concerns.

The relationship between China and Australia has become increasingly strained over recent years, particularly concerning technology and trade disputes. Notably, Australia banned Chinese company Huawei from participating in its 5G network construction in 2018 on national security grounds. This ban marked a significant turning point in bilateral relations, prompting a multi-billion dollar trade war, although there have been some signs of easing tensions towards the end of last year.

Key Points:

1. The Australian government bans the DeepSeek artificial intelligence program on all government devices to address security risks.
2. DeepSeek, developed by a Chinese startup, has raised concerns in multiple countries due to its powerful capabilities and data processing practices.
3. Relations between China and Australia remain tense due to ongoing technology and trade disputes, historically including a ban on Huawei's involvement in 5G construction.