DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup, has rapidly gained attention in the global tech landscape, sparking both excitement and concern. While its innovative AI chatbot program promises cost-effective solutions, several countries have taken steps to ban or restrict its use, particularly on government devices. This article delves into the reasons behind these bans and explores the broader implications of DeepSeek's emergence.
As of early February 2025, South Korea, Australia, and Taiwan have officially banned DeepSeek on government devices. The United States, in addition to these countries, is considering similar measures. The primary reason cited by these nations is "security concerns" related to the Chinese technology and uncertainties surrounding the handling of user data.
DeepSeek is a Chinese AI company founded in 2023 by Liang Feng. The company gained prominence after introducing its AI-powered chatbot, DeepSeek R1. This chatbot shares similarities with OpenAI's ChatGPT. Like other AI chatbots, DeepSeek R1 is designed to simulate human-like conversations, answering questions, drafting text, translating languages, and even writing code.
DeepSeek distinguishes itself from its competitors by its claimed cost-effectiveness. According to the company, training the latest DeepSeek model requires significantly less computing power than that required by other AI models like OpenAI's GPT-4 or Google's Gemini. This claim led to a market reaction where US tech companies' share prices plummeted, reflecting the potential disruption DeepSeek could bring to the AI industry.
The bans on DeepSeek stem primarily from concerns about data security and potential espionage. Countries worry about how DeepSeek stores and uses user data, especially given China's National Intelligence Law. This law theoretically grants the government access to corporate data and raises fears that user information collected by Chinese platforms could be used for surveillance or influence operations.
Countries that have restricted or banned DeepSeek:
DeepSeek's privacy policy states that it collects personal information such as email addresses, phone numbers, chat history, and technical information about user devices. This data is shared with service providers and advertising partners and retained for as long as necessary. While similar data collection practices are common among major tech companies, the concerns surrounding DeepSeek are amplified due to its Chinese origins and the potential for government access to data.
Eddy Borges-Rey, an associate professor at Northwestern University in Qatar, notes that Western governments often treat Chinese platforms differently due to concerns about the Chinese government's access to corporate data. While Western companies are regulated within jurisdictions like the EU and the US, Chinese companies are often seen as direct security threats, justifying bans from a national security perspective.
Beyond security and privacy, there are broader concerns about the use of AI chatbots in various settings. These include potential biases, copyright breaches, and the impact of large language models on original content.
The bans and restrictions on DeepSeek highlight the growing complexities and concerns surrounding the use of AI, particularly when it involves companies operating under different legal and regulatory frameworks. As AI technology continues to evolve, governments and organizations must carefully consider the security, privacy, and ethical implications of these powerful tools.
