Why is DeepSeek Facing a Ban in Several Countries?

China’s DeepSeek has created huge waves in the AI space since its launch in January 2025. It has given tough competition to big names like OpenAI, becoming the most downloaded app in the US. 

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Which Countries Have Banned DeepSeek?

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Here’s a list of countries that have banned the use of the DeepSeek app due to security issues: 

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Italy

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Italy was one of the first countries to ban the Chinese AI app. According to reports, DeepSeek’s AI app is not available in the country’s App Store and Play Store anymore. 

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Following a complaint filed by Euroconsumers, an Italian consumer coalition group, the Italian government launched an investigation against DeepSeek. 

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The government authorities gave DeepSeek 20 days to respond to their notice, demanding information regarding the AI company’s handling of user data. 

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Taiwan

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The Ministry of Digital Affairs of Taiwan has banned the use of DeepSeek, citing that it “endangers national information security.”

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The ban restricts government agencies, public schools, and state-owned agencies from using the Chinese AI model. 

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The Taiwan government believes that the use of this AI tool by such institutions runs the risk of information leakage and cross-border transmission of sensitive data.

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India

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The Finance Ministry of India has banned its employees from using DeepSeek’s AI model due to data security concerns. 

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On February 5, 2025, Wednesday, the ministry issued an internal advisory to its officials banning the use of the AI tool. 

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However, this ban is not just restricted to DeepSeek; it also applies to other AI tools, including OpenAI’s ChatGPT.  

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Mentioned below is an excerpt from the advisory letter, 

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“Avoiding the Use of AI Tools/Apps in Office Devices.” 

“It has been determined that AI tools and AI apps (such as ChatGPT, DeepSeek, etc.) in the office computers and devices pose a risks for confidentiality of Govt. data and documents.”

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Australia

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The Australian government has also restricted the use of the Chinese AI tool, DeepSeek, on official devices. The Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs, Tony Burke, has issued a notice stating, 

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“Prevent the use or installation of DeepSeek products, applications and web services and where found remove all existing instances of DeepSeek products, applications and web services from all Australian Government systems and devices.”

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The restrictions are only limited to government devices and offices but Burke has advised the citizens to be cautious of sharing personal information on the app. 

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South Korea

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South Korea is also among the countries that have banned the use of DeepSeek due to security concerns. 

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The government has blocked access to the AI tool within official institutions, including the industry ministry, the defence ministry, and the state-run Hydro Nuclear Power. 

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USA

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Texas was the first state in the US to ban the use of the Chinese AI tool. Several federal agencies, like the US Navy, Pentagon, and US Congress, have also banned the use of DeepSeek. 

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These restrictions were put in place after several security concerns were raised against the AI model.

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Despite all the negative press, DeepSeek is swiftly gaining users on a daily basis. In just a week, it has set a benchmark in the AI world by using comparatively less computational power and its human-like interaction. Have you used DeepSeek yet? Tell us your thoughts!