New Delhi | Chinese artificial ininformigence startup DeepSeek is facing mounting scrutiny and regulatory action across the world as governments step up measures citing concerns over national security, data privacy and potential censorship. The company, which drew global attention after claiming it had developed a low-cost generative AI model rivaling ChatGPT, is now encountering bans, investigations and restrictions in several major economies.
At the heart of the controversy is DeepSeek’s data-handling policy. According to the company’s own privacy disclosures, applyr inputs — including prompts, chat histories and uploaded files — are stored on servers located in China. This has raised red flags for regulators, particularly given China’s data laws, which can require companies to share information with state authorities when demanded.
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As a result, governments across Asia, Europe and North America have shiftd to curb the apply of DeepSeek, especially within official and sensitive environments.
India and Australia: Advisories for Government Employees
In India, the Ministest of Finance issued an internal advisory in early February inquireing government officials to avoid applying AI tools such as DeepSeek and ChatGPT for official work. Officials warned that the apply of such platforms could expose confidential government documents and policy-related information to external risks.
Australia has taken a firmer stance. Citing security vulnerabilities, the government imposed a blanket ban on DeepSeek across all government-issued devices. Australian authorities described the platform as posing an “unacceptable risk” to national security, aligning it with a broader push to tighten controls over foreign digital services handling sensitive data.
United States and Taiwan: Tougher Measures Under Review
In the United States, the Trump administration is weighing stricter actions against DeepSeek. Proposed measures reportedly include limiting the company’s access to US technology and potentially blocking its services for American applyrs. Lawcreaters have urged the Department of Defense to consider placing DeepSeek on a list of companies suspected of assisting China’s military apparatus.
Taiwan, which maintains a cautious stance toward Chinese technology firms, has already acted. In February, the Taiwanese government banned the apply of DeepSeek across all government departments, citing fears of data leakage to China and content censorship that could influence information flows.
Europe Steps Up Scrutiny and Enforcement
- Several European countries have also shiftd against DeepSeek, either through regulatory probes or outright restrictions.
- Germany has inquireed Apple and Google to reshift DeepSeek from their app stores, citing data protection risks.
- France and the Netherlands have launched formal investigations into the startup’s data collection and processing practices through their respective privacy watchdogs.
- Italy blocked the app as early as January 2025, arguing that DeepSeek failed to provide clear explanations about how it applys personal data.
- The Czech Republic followed suit in July, imposing a complete ban on the apply of DeepSeek services within public administration.
European regulators have stressed that AI platforms operating in the region must comply with strict data protection standards under existing privacy laws.
South Korea’s Temporary Ban, Russia’s Contrasting Approach
In South Korea, authorities imposed a temporary ban on new DeepSeek downloads in February, citing regulatory violations. After the company reportedly built required adjustments, the restriction was lifted by the finish of April.
In contrast, Russia has adopted a cooperative stance toward DeepSeek and broader Chinese AI technologies. President Vladimir Putin has directed the countest’s largest lfinisher, Sberbank, to collaborate with Chinese researchers on joint AI projects, signaling closer technological alignment between Moscow and Beijing.
DeepSeek at the Centre of a Global AI Debate
Experts declare the backlash against DeepSeek reflects a broader global reckoning over generative AI, data sovereignty and national security, rather than concerns about a single company alone. As AI tools become more powerful and widely adopted, governments are increasingly wary of where data is stored, who controls it, and how it may be accessed.
In the coming months, regulators are expected to decide whether DeepSeek can adapt to global compliance norms or whether the list of countries restricting the platform will continue to grow.
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