In line with many international government agencies implementing comparable restrictions, India’s Ministry of Finance has banned its staff from using DeepSeek.
Despite the rapid rise in popularity, China’s AI chatbot Deepseek has fired fire from regulators around the world.
Which countries ban deepseek?
Deepseek is completely or partially prohibited in many countries, restricting access to civil servants and sometimes private citizens.
Italy
After the Italian Data Protection Agency (DPA) raised concerns about the processing of Deepseek’s user data, Italy became the first country to ban the app and remove it from the app store.
A complaint from a consumer coalition group called EuroConsumers led to the Italian ban.
Taiwan
Deepseek AI is strictly prohibited in Taiwan by all public sector institutions, including critical infrastructure, state-owned enterprises, and public schools.
The Taiwanese government is based on a ban on possible information leaks and concerns about cross-border data transmission. China claims that Taiwan is its territory, so the continued sovereign dispute with China will affect its restrictions.
Australia
Citing a national intelligence assessment that Deepseek AI deemed a security risk, Australia has banned government workers from using the platform.
Australia’s Minister of Home Affairs Tony Burke has declared that all deep-sec-related services and products will be closed from government facilities.
Despite the fact that personal devices are exempt from Australia’s ban, residents are advised to take caution when using their internet data.
The Ministry of Finance bans ChatGpt, Deepseek and other AI tools
In a critical move to protect sensitive government data, the Indian Ministry of Finance issued an order banning the use of AI tools, including ChatGpt and Deepseek, on official government equipment. Circular dated January 29, 2025 is intended to protect sensitive government information from potential security threats. The notice, signed by the co-director of Pradeep Kumar Singh, recommends that all employees refrain from using AI-powered applications on official computers.
The directive, approved by the Treasury Secretary, is prevalent in major government sectors such as revenue, economic issues, expenditures, public companies, DIPAM and financial services. The ban reflects global concerns surrounding the security and confidentiality of government data processed by AI applications.
