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Taiwan Bans Government Use of Chinese AI Service DeepSeek Over Security Concerns

Taiwan has banned government use of Chinese AI service DeepSeek, citing security risks over data transmission and potential information leaks.

Taiwan’s Ministry of Digital Affairs has prohibited government departments from using Chinese startup DeepSeek’s artificial intelligence (AI) service, citing national security risks.

In a statement on Friday, the ministry warned that DeepSeek’s AI operations involve cross-border data transmission, raising concerns about potential information leaks.

“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 jeopardises the country’s information security,” the ministry said.

Taiwan has long been cautious of Chinese technology due to Beijing’s sovereignty claims over the self-governed island, as well as ongoing military and political threats. The ministry pledged to continue monitoring technological developments and adjust its security policies as needed.

The scrutiny of DeepSeek’s AI service is not limited to Taiwan. South Korea’s privacy watchdog also announced plans to question the company about its handling of user data. Meanwhile, regulators in France, Italy, and Ireland are conducting their own investigations into DeepSeek’s data practices.

Despite mounting regulatory pressure, DeepSeek’s AI assistant has gained significant traction. By Monday, its free AI chatbot surpassed OpenAI’s ChatGPT in downloads on Apple’s App Store. The surge in popularity coincided with a massive sell-off in US tech stocks, leading to a historic $593 billion loss in market value for chipmaker Nvidia in a single day.

Melissa Enoch

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