Labor bans DeepSeek from all government devices
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The news: Labor has announced it is banning Chinese AI app DeepSeek from all federal government devices and systems on national security grounds.
The context: DeepSeek shook up the generative AI race — and global markets — when it released its open-source chatbot and "reasoning" model R1 on 20 January.
In a statement, the Albanese government said its ban is based on "the risk and threat information from our national security and intelligence agencies".
"DeepSeek poses an unacceptable risk to Australian Government technology," it added.
Speaking to ABC News Breakfast, Deputy Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said the Coalition "welcomed the decision".
Meanwhile, Australia's privacy watchdog has reached out to international counterparts over its concerns about the rise of the Chinese AI firm.
In the fortnight since DeepSeek’s release, regulators in Italy, the Netherlands, Ireland, Belgium and South Korea have either said they will make formal requests for information from the company or launch investigations over possible privacy risks.
Earlier this week, Taiwan also banned government departments from using DeepSeek.
What they said: "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," said Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke.
The source: Government media statement
