Taiwan Bans DeepSeek AI Over National Security Concerns

Government Warns of Information Leaks

Taiwan’s Ministry of Digital Affairs has officially banned government departments from using the artificial intelligence (AI) service provided by the Chinese startup DeepSeek. Officials say the move is due to national security concerns.

In a statement on Friday, the ministry warned that Deepseek’s AI operations involve cross-border data transfers, which could lead to leaks of sensitive information.

“DeepSeek’s AI service is a Chinese product, and its operation involves cross-border transmission and information leakage and other information security concerns, and is a product that jeopardizes the country’s information security,” the ministry said.

Taiwan Tightens Restrictions on Chinese Technology

Taiwan has always been cautious about Chinese technology due to Beijing’s sovereignty claims over the island. The ministry stated that security risks posed by DeepSeek were serious enough to justify the ban.

“We will continue to monitor technological developments and adjust security policies as needed,” the ministry added.

The decision reflects Taiwan’s broader efforts to strengthen cybersecurity and limit reliance on Chinese-developed digital products. This follows previous bans on Chinese apps and software that officials feared could be exploited for espionage.

DeepSeek Faces Global Scrutiny

Taiwan is not the only country raising concerns about the Artificial Inteliigence. South Korea’s privacy watchdog has announced plans to question the company over how it handles user data.

READ ALSO: Interesting Things To Know About DeepSeek, Chinese AI App Challenging OpenAI

At the same time, regulators in France, Italy, and Ireland are conducting their own investigations into DeepSeek’s data practices. Officials in these countries want to determine if they will comply with strict data protection laws.

Despite the growing scrutiny, DeepSeek’s AI assistant has become increasingly popular.

DeepSeek AI Surpasses ChatGPT in Downloads

By Monday, DeepSeek’s free AI chatbot had overtaken OpenAI’s ChatGPT in downloads on Apple’s App Store. The sudden surge in popularity came as major US tech stocks experienced a massive sell-off.

The downturn led to a historic $593 billion loss in market value for Nvidia, a key player in the AI industry.

While DeepSeek faces regulatory pressure worldwide, its AI service continues to attract users. However, the bans and investigations may impact its long-term growth and credibility.