Regulators around the world are raising concerns about DeepSeek, the Chinese AI company. A growing number of countries and government bodies are banning DeepSeek’s viral AI models and chatbot apps due to worries about ethics, privacy, and security practices.
Corporations are also banning DeepSeek in large numbers, primarily due to concerns about potential data leakage to the Chinese government. According to DeepSeek’s privacy policy, user data is stored in China, where local laws require organizations to share data with intelligence officials upon request.
The list of regions where DeepSeek’s apps are banned is growing, and updates on this can be found in this roundup. It also includes information on public sector departments that have prohibited the use of DeepSeek tech.
Italy
Italy was among the first countries to ban DeepSeek after a privacy watchdog investigation into the company’s data handling. The Data Protection Authority (DPA) of Italy launched an investigation into DeepSeek’s data collection practices and GDPR compliance. The DPA gave DeepSeek 20 days to respond to questions about data storage and usage.
DeepSeek argued that its apps were not subject to EU law, but Italy’s DPA disagreed and took steps to remove DeepSeek’s apps from the Apple and Google app stores in Italy.
Taiwan
Taiwan’s Ministry of Digital Affairs has banned government agencies from using DeepSeek, stating that it poses a risk to national information security.
The ministry expressed concerns about potential information leakage and cross-border transmission by public sector workers and critical infrastructure facilities using DeepSeek’s technology. The ban applies to government agency employees, public schools, and state-owned enterprises.
The Ministry of Digital Affairs stated that DeepSeek AI service is a Chinese product and raises various information security concerns.
U.S. Congress
U.S. congressional offices have been warned against using DeepSeek technology.
The House’s chief administrative officer (CAO) sent a notice to congressional offices indicating that DeepSeek technology is under review due to potential risks associated with threat actors exploiting it. Security measures have been taken to restrict DeepSeek’s functionality on all House-issued devices.
Staffers are prohibited from installing DeepSeek applications on official smartphones, computers, or tablets.
Texas
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued an order banning DeepSeek and other Chinese companies’ software from government-issued devices in the state.
Abbott emphasized the state’s commitment to protecting critical infrastructure from data-harvesting AI and social media apps associated with the Chinese Communist Party.
U.S. Navy
The U.S. Navy has instructed its members not to use DeepSeek apps or technology due to security and ethical concerns.
Members are prohibited from using DeepSeek products in any capacity and are advised against downloading or using them for work-related tasks or personal use.
Pentagon
The Pentagon has blocked access to DeepSeek technologies, although some staff accessed them before the ban was implemented.
The Defense Information Systems Agency banned access to DeepSeek’s website in January over concerns about unauthorized use of the applications by Pentagon workers.
NASA
NASA has banned employees from using DeepSeek tech due to national security concerns related to the company’s servers operating outside the U.S.
Employees are not authorized to access DeepSeek via NASA devices and agency-managed network connections.
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