Citing concerns about national security, the Taiwanese Ministry of Digital Affairs has banned government entities from utilizing DeepSeek, an AI model created by China. The ministry voiced its apprehension that the use of DeepSeek could result in the disclosure of sensitive material to the Chinese authorities.
In light of Beijing’s territorial claims to the island, Taiwan has shown its cautious attitude toward Chinese technology through this move. Ministry officials stressed that DeepSeek’s products pose a risk to national information security and promised constant vigilance and regulatory changes to counteract any security risks.
The cutting-edge artificial intelligence capabilities of DeepSeek, created by a Chinese startup, have attracted attention from around the world. However, DeepSeek has faced criticism due to censorship and data privacy issues. Based on reports, DeepSeek modifies its responses to sensitive topics, including the situation of Taiwan and the Tiananmen Square incident, to match the official attitude of the Chinese government.
The United States and Italy are among the nations that have begun investigating DeepSeek’s data handling procedures in light of these concerns. While the US National Security Council declared the launch of a national security review, the Italian data protection authority is requesting further details regarding DeepSeek’s data gathering and usage.
Amid mounting international concern about the potential use of Chinese-developed technologies in critical industries, including government operations, Taiwan has banned DeepSeek. This shows how governments need to be careful not to let themselves become too dependent on technical progress while also protecting their national security objectives.
