Taiwan Bans DeepSeek Over Security Concerns

News Desk

Islamabad: Taiwan has banned public sector workers and employees at key infrastructure facilities from using DeepSeek, citing concerns over national security.

The government stated that the AI service, developed by the Chinese company DeepSeek, poses potential risks due to its cross-border data transmission and possible information leakage. Taiwan’s Ministry of Digital Affairs emphasized that DeepSeek’s operations could compromise national information security.

The company’s new R1 chatbot, launched last month, has garnered attention for its advanced capabilities, reportedly rivaling leading AI models from the United States at a much lower cost.

Despite the restrictions imposed by Taiwan, DeepSeek’s product has sparked concern on Wall Street, where it has been seen as a competitive threat to US-based AI companies.

The ban follows increasing scrutiny from several countries, including South Korea, Ireland, France, Australia, and Italy, over the Chinese firm’s data practices.

Data protection authorities in South Korea and Ireland have called on DeepSeek to clarify how it handles user information. Meanwhile, Italy has launched an investigation into the R1 model, temporarily blocking it from processing Italian user data.

This move also highlights ongoing tensions between Taiwan and China, as Taiwan accuses Beijing of using “grey zone” tactics, including cyberattacks, to exert pressure over the island.

Since 2019, Taiwan has prohibited government agencies from using ICT products and services that pose a threat to national security.