3 min. reading

DeepSeek Banned: Why Countries Are Banning This Chinese AI?

Remember our recent article about the Chinese AI sensation called DeepSeek? Well, it looks like this story has taken quite an interesting turn. While I was writing about its success last time, today I need to tell you about how this promising project found itself in quite a pickle.

Katarína Šimčíková
Katarína Šimčíková
Project manager, Ecommerce Bridge EU
DeepSeek Banned: Why Countries Are Banning This Chinese AI?
Source: Depositphotos

You know, it reminds me of the old story of the Trojan horse—beautiful gift on the outside, but inside… Well, let’s take a closer look.

Why Is Everyone Suddenly Scared?

Imagine having a super-skilled assistant who knows everything possible but is obligated to report your every move to their boss. That’s exactly how it works in China—every app must provide data to government intelligence services. And that’s not all! Researchers found that this digital helper sometimes has a tendency to spread harmful content. 

Who’s Said “No” to DeepSeek?

Italians

The Italians were the first to show DeepSeek the red card on January 30th. When their authorities asked about personal data processing, DeepSeek pretended not to hear.

Taiwan

Taiwan, which has, let’s say… a complicated relationship with China, also left nothing to chance. They swiftly banned DeepSeek from all government offices.

America

Texas became the first state in the USA to ban DeepSeek on government devices, setting off a domino effect. Governor Abbott made it clear—no Chinese tech in state administration. NASA and the Navy joined in too—better safe than sorry.

Who Else Is Keeping an Eye on DeepSeek?

Belgium, Ireland, France, and South Korea already have their magnifying glasses ready and are preparing for a proper audit.

An Ethical Dilemma

DeepSeek was claimed to own Nvidia A100 chips which it acquired before the United States’ export restrictions on advanced technology. While the company seems to have a legitimate initial access to these chips, there are investigations regarding whether DeepSeek has also gained access to more powerful Nvidia GPUs from indirect sources, perhaps skirting export controls.

These investigations cause a concern about possible sanctions evasion connected to the sale and acquisition of restricted technology.

And when it comes to historical events? Well, let’s just say their version of history bears a striking resemblance to the official Chinese version.

This ongoing saga of DeepSeek serves as a reminder that in the world of AI, success can quickly turn into scrutiny. As more countries scrutinize this technology closely, it’s evident that innovation without transparency could lead to significant problems.

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Katarína Šimčíková
Katarína Šimčíková
Project manager, Ecommerce Bridge EU
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