Heaptalk, Jakarta — Several countries worldwide have blocked DeepSeek due to data security concerns. Meanwhile, in Indonesia, the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi) is evaluating the development of DeepSeek since this AI chatbot is part of technological innovation.
“We see that what DeepSeek produces can certainly be an alternative. And we, as a country that is developing artificial intelligence technology, certainly, open, observe, and study various developments,” said Nezar Patria, Deputy Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs, when met after the Signing of a Grant from the Bekasi Regency Government to Komdigi, Jakarta (02/17).
The popularity of DeepSeek has sparked concerns among authorities worldwide. As a result, several countries and government agencies have implemented blocks due to worries over DeepSeek’s ethical practices, privacy, and security.
The biggest concern reported is the potential data leakage to the Chinese government. According to DeepSeek’s privacy policy, the company stores all user data in China, where local laws require organizations to share data with intelligence officials upon request.
Italy became one of the first countries to ban DeepSeek following a privacy watchdog investigation into its handling of personal data. At the end of January, Italy’s Data Protection Authority (DPA) investigated DeepSeek’s data collection practices and compliance with GDPR, a European Union law that regulates how personal data is stored and processed in the EU.
Taiwan also blocked DeepSeek, citing the risk of cross-border data transmission and information leakage for public sector workers and critical infrastructure facilities using DeepSeek technology. This ban applies to employees of government agencies, public schools, and state-owned enterprises.
Governments in several US states, such as Texas and New York, have banned the use of DeepSeek on government devices and networks due to data privacy concerns. Other countries that have imposed bans include Australia, South Korea, Ireland, and India. The reasons cited are similar to those of other countries: potential data leakage.
