The government of Taiwan has decided to ban the Chinese AI chatbot DeepSeek from use by public sector and critical infrastructure employees, citing national security risks.

According to the Ministry of Digital Affairs, using this service involves “cross-border data transmission and filtering and other concerns regarding security information.” 

The official statement emphasizes that DeepSeek, as a product of China, could compromise sensitive and strategic information. Taiwanese authorities maintain that the measure aims to protect governmental agencies and critical infrastructure from potential vulnerabilities linked to foreign technology. 

Taiwan’s move follows other international actions in response to DeepSeek’s expansion. Ireland and South Korea have requested clarifications from the company regarding how it manages user data, while Italy has launched investigations and blocked the use of local data on this Artificial Intelligence platform. 

Measures taken by other countries

This situation is part of a broader technological context. China faces an advanced microchip export ban from the United States, aimed at curbing its AI development.

The U.S. is investigating whether DeepSeek circumvented these restrictions by acquiring Nvidia chips through intermediaries in countries such as Singapore. The Taiwanese government stated it is closely monitoring compliance with U.S. export controls and domestic legislation. 

Experts point out that concerns extend across the Western world. In Australia, the Minister of Industry and Science warned users about privacy risks, data management, and information quality when using AI technologies from China.

Similarly, South Korea and other governments are assessing the impact of AI on national security and citizen privacy, especially when foreign startups handle large volumes of sensitive information.