DeepSeek is no longer just an AI tool; it is a geopolitical hot potato.
Last night, I read an insightful white paper and technology report summarized by Dr. Yildiz on his website and Medium. It debunked myths and sensationalism surrounding DeepSeek, providing a much-needed perspective on the topic. I knew he was on something important.
Like him, I know that DeepSeek is definitely NOT from another planet as claimed by some silly post. It is just a tool manufactured in China which is so similar to its counterparts like ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, Claude or many others.
I just wanted to blog my thoughts as an expressive avenue and also to inform my readers. If you missed this outstanding story of Dr Mehmet Yildiz, here is the link:
DeepSeek Is Not from Another Planet; It Is from China
DeepSeek Shows Potential, but It Falls Short of the Hype, Raising Urgent Concerns. With Italy, Taiwan, Australia…medium.com
What Happened this Morning in Australia
This morning, I woke up to a striking headline — DeepSeek, the Chinese AI chatbot, is now at the center of a global security crackdown, including in Australia, where I reside. All news channels were talking about it.
As I sipped my black coffee, I reflected on how familiar this scenario felt. This was not just another tech headline but a reflection of a larger trend I had observed in the digital landscape for years. I felt too old to deal with the emotions it raised. It was overwhelming for me.
The growing tension between national security and foreign AI tools has existed for some time. The recent bans across Australia, Asia, and the West highlight how deeply our digital lives are intertwined with global geopolitics.
I can’t write comprehensive reports like Dr Yildiz and certainly don’t want to bore with technical details so I will quickly highlight the key concerns from his story to inform you. If you are interested in details you can read his 18-minute report with credible citations.
Summary of Key Concerns Raised in Dr. Yildiz’s Analysis
Dr. Yildiz’s white paper and technology report highlighted several issues with DeepSeek, shedding light on its limitations and security risks:
Hyped Yet Underwhelming Performance: Despite public excitement, real-world tests showed DeepSeek struggled with fundamental AI tasks. Unlike competitors such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude, it lacks real-time browsing capabilities, severely limiting its ability to provide updated information.
Security Risks and Data Privacy Issues: DeepSeek collects user data, including IP addresses and keystroke patterns, stored on servers in China. Given China’s data-sharing laws, this raises significant concerns about potential government access to user data.
Logical and Rule-Based Task Failures: DeepSeek failed structured logic tasks in expert-led experiments, raising doubts about its reasoning capabilities and reliability in professional and business environments.
Censorship and Bias: Testing revealed that DeepSeek censors politically sensitive topics, aligning with Chinese state regulations. This could impact users relying on AI for unbiased information.
Geopolitical and Economic Implications: Governments worldwide are scrutinizing foreign AI due to concerns about data sovereignty, cybersecurity, and economic competition. DeepSeek’s model and transparency have been questioned in this context.
DeepSeek’s Source Code Raises Concerns: Security researchers have found that DeepSeek’s website contains code that could potentially send user login details to China Mobile, a Chinese state-owned telecom banned in the U.S.
Summary of Reactions from Multiple Countries
Australia’s Swift Action
Australia has banned DeepSeek from all government devices due to national security concerns. Beijing, however, was not amused.
In a classic case of diplomatic déjà vu, China accused Australia of “kowtowing” to the U.S., suggesting that Canberra’s decision was less about security and more about appeasing its ally.
While the Australian government stood firm on its stance, Beijing’s sharp retort added yet another layer to the ongoing tech cold war.
DeepSeek is no longer just an AI tool! It is a geopolitical hot potato.
Italy’s Firm Stance
Italy was one of the first countries to ban DeepSeek, citing serious privacy concerns. The Italian Data Protection Authority (Garante) ruled that the AI tool lacked transparency in handling personal data and failed to meet the country’s strict privacy regulations.
This decision followed a broader crackdown on AI tools that do not comply with the European Union’s GDPR standards.
Rome made it clear: if DeepSeek wants to operate in Italy, it must play by Europe’s privacy rules.
Taiwan’s Precautionary Measures
Taiwan has advised its government departments against using DeepSeek to prevent information security risks.
South Korea’s Crackdown
South Korea’s industry ministry has temporarily banned access to DeepSeek due to security concerns.
India’s Smart Approach
India’s finance ministry has advised its employees to avoid using AI tools like DeepSeek or ChatGPT for official purposes due to confidentiality concerns.
The United States Tightens Restrictions
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has banned the use of DeepSeek on government-issued devices, citing concerns over data security and potential influence from the Chinese Communist Party.
The U.S. Navy has officially prohibited its service members from using, downloading, or installing the DeepSeek AI app on any devices, citing significant security concerns. This decision underscores the broader apprehension within U.S. military branches about potential data vulnerabilities linked to foreign-developed AI applications.
Similarly, the U.S. House of Representatives’ Chief Administrative Officer has advised congressional offices against using DeepSeek on official devices, emphasizing the risks associated with unauthorized data access and foreign influence.
The Big Picture
The DeepSeek controversy extends beyond a single AI tool. It is now part of a larger conversation about data sovereignty, national security, and AI governance.
With multiple governments blocking or restricting DeepSeek, the AI landscape is rapidly evolving to things we can’t imagine yet. I feel like a global war in technology is in the offing.
The future of DeepSeek remains uncertain.
Will it face the same scrutiny as TikTok, or will it adapt to meet new regulatory demands?
As this debate unfolds, one thing is clear: AI security and governance will continue to be at the forefront of global discussions.
What do you think?
Now Deepseek is working closely with Bohrium. Check out this story titled What Is Bohrium and Why Does It Matter for Researchers, Authors, Journalists, and Readers? or this blog post Why Bohrium Became a Popular Search Engine Quickly.
Thank you for reading my story, and I look forward to your comments.
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Cited References
- Australia bans DeepSeek from government devices
- Italy’s regulator blocks Chinese AI app DeepSeek on data protection
- Taiwan restricts DeepSeek due to security risks
- South Korea temporarily bans DeepSeek
- India advises employees to avoid AI tools like DeepSeek
- Texas bans DeepSeek on government-issued devices
- Navy, Congress Ban DeepSeek as Security Concerns Grow — Techstrong.ai
- US Navy bans members from using China’s DeepSeek AI app out of security fears
- DeepSeek website potentially transmits data to China Mobile
- From India to South Korea, which countries have banned Chinese AI DeepSeek? — The Times of India
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