From the perspective of the PRC authorities, Taiwan is a rebellious island they aim to reclaim. As a result, Taiwanese officials remain cautious about potential threats from their neighbors. Due to security concerns, Taiwan has prohibited the use of AI developments from the Chinese startup DeepSeek by government agencies and strategically important companies.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Digital Technology stated on Friday, as reported by Bloomberg, that “DeepSeek’s work raises security concerns related to cross-border information transfer and data leakage.” These concerns are common among China’s geopolitical opponents as Chinese technology spreads globally. A clear example is the U.S. government’s efforts to ban the Chinese social media platform TikTok over similar fears.
Growing Global Restrictions on DeepSeek
DeepSeek has faced increasing restrictions worldwide. In Italy, the platform has already been banned, while the UK government has issued warnings to its citizens and businesses. The U.S. Department of Defense has prohibited employees from using DeepSeek, and several companies across different countries have also banned its use independently.
A similar situation occurred with the early spread of ChatGPT when a Samsung employee used confidential corporate data in the chatbot, leading to an internal ban. In Taiwan, officials argue that DeepSeek “threatens national information security” due to its Chinese origins. As a result, entering confidential or official data into the platform is strictly prohibited.
The ban applies not only to government officials but also to key companies maintaining Taiwan’s critical infrastructure, adds NIX Solutions. The decision underscores Taiwan’s ongoing efforts to protect national security amid growing technological tensions. Yet, we’ll keep you updated as more developments emerge.