Government

Call to Ban DeepSeek on Government Devices Amid Security Concerns

Published January 31, 2025

Australian officials and key infrastructure providers are being urged to prohibit the use of DeepSeek, a Chinese generative AI application that has gained significant popularity in app stores worldwide.

The advisory comes from CyberCX, Australia's largest cybersecurity firm, which issued a warning stating that it is "almost certain" that user data collected by DeepSeek is under the control of the Chinese government. The firm strongly recommends that government agencies and organizations with sensitive information consider banning the app on their devices.

CyberCX warns that the DeepSeek AI Assistant could deliver outputs that favor the narratives of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and that it collects personal user data, including prompts entered into the application, which are stored in China. The advisory emphasizes the risks associated with using the app, particularly for organizations involved in critical infrastructure and democratic institutions.

Currently, DeepSeek holds the title of the most downloaded app globally on both the iOS App Store and Google Play, surpassing even ChatGPT in popularity.

Katherine Mansted, the executive director of CyberCX, expects that Australian governments and agencies will follow suit and ban DeepSeek, similar to previous actions taken against TikTok and Huawei's devices. Earlier in 2023, the Australian government prohibited TikTok from being used on government devices due to security fears.

Mansted noted that it is uncommon for CyberCX to recommend restricting access to specific software but identified DeepSeek as uniquely problematic due to its deep ties to China.

Despite increasing concerns, Five Eyes nations, including Australia, have not yet issued formal guidance regarding DeepSeek. However, Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers has urged caution among citizens regarding the app, while Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic has raised privacy considerations.

Husic was the first member of a Western government to express concerns about DeepSeek's data privacy policies. The UK technology secretary remarked that while they haven't had ample time to analyze the app, it is clear that a model governed by Chinese law incorporates censorship aspects.

In the United States, the White House has committed to assessing the security implications of DeepSeek, and the U.S. Navy has advised personnel against using the app.

Mansted emphasized the need for a framework in Australia to manage high-risk foreign vendors that engage with critical infrastructure and government agencies. She believes that proactive measures and guidelines should be established rather than reacting to each emerging technology.

DeepSeek, Cybersecurity, China