DeepSeek, the generative AI (artificial intelligence) startup based in China, faces application bans, user restrictions, security concerns, and additional pushback in some countries.
Among the potential areas of concern: South Korea has accused DeepSeek of sharing user data with the owner of TikTok in China, the BBC reported.
Still, many countries permit DeepSeek chatbot use -- thereby providing an alternative to OpenAI, Anthropic and other generative AI applications.
Here's a look at the controversy, along with a list of countries, organizations and technology companies, and their current business status with the China-based AI platform.
What Is DeepSeek? China-based AI ChatBot Explained
First, some background: DeepSeek, founded in 2023 by Liang Wenfeng, is based in China. An earlier Wenfeng hedge fund company apparently amassed 10,000 Nvidia A100 graphics processors to run various AI tasks. Wenfeng began building that older cluster before the Biden Administration restricted sales of such chips to China, according to The Associated Press.
When the DeepSeek R1 AI model gained U.S. media coverage in January 2025, the news rocked U.S. stock markets. DeekSeek said the free, open-source large language model took only two months and less than $6 million to build, using reduced-capability chips from Nvidia called H800s, CNBC reported. In theory, that may mean DeepSeek requires less energy to run and complete user queries compared to rivals such as OpenAI and Anthropic.
Still, critics claim the China-based platform likely requires billions of dollars of underlying technology. And research from Wiz -- a major cloud security company -- in January 2025 uncovered a DeepSeek database leaking sensitive information.
Where Is DeepSeek Banned? List of Countries, States and Government Agencies
Amid that backdrop, multiple countries and government agencies have banned DeepSeek's use. Here's a look at the latest updates.
A-A-A
Australia: Australia banned DeepSeek from all government devices and systems amid potential security risks (Source: BBC, February 4, 2025).
C-C-C
Canada - University of British Columbia: The university banned DeepSeek from being used or installed on university-owned devices and networks, citing “a high degree of privacy and security risk.” (Source: The Canadian Press, March 19, 2025)
E-E-E
Europe: DeepSeek may face more actions from national regulators in the future, according to the European Data Protection Board. (Source: Insurance Journal, February 13, 2025)
I-I-I
Italy: Garante, Italy's data protection authority, ordered DeepSeek to block its chatbot in Italy after the AI startup failed to address the regulator's concerns over its privacy policy. (Source: Reuters, February 4, 2025)
M-M-M
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries: The company banned employees from using DeepSeek (Source: Kyodo News, February 12, 2025)
N-N-N
News Corp: News Corp has banned staff from using DeepSeek due to concerns about security and privacy risks. (Source: Capital Brief, February 16, 2025)
S-S-S
South Korea - Industry Ministry: South Korea's industry ministry has temporarily blocked employee access to DeepSeek due to security concerns, as the government urges caution on generative AI services. (Source: Reuters, February 5, 2025)
South Korea - Nationwide Downloads Suspended: South Korea's data protection authority said new downloads of DeepSeek had been suspended in the country after DeepSeek acknowledged failing to take into account some of the agency's rules on protecting personal data. (Source: Reuters, February 17, 2025)
T-T-T
Taiwan: Taiwan banned government departments from using DeepSeek, toughening week-old language that originally said it should not be used. (Source: Reuters, February 3, 2025). In response, China has condemned Taiwan’s DeepSeek AI ban, calling it "unreasonable and absurd." (Source: The Economic Times of India, February 12, 2025)
Toyota: The company banned employees from using DeepSeek (Source: Kyodo News, February 12, 2025)
U-U-U
United States - Potential White House Decision: The Trump administration is weighing a ban on DeepSeek from U.S. government devices over national-security concerns. (Source: Reuters, March 7, 2025)
United States - Potential Federal Legislation: A bipartisan group of senators introduced legislation to potentially ban DeepSeek’s products from government devices and networks. (Source: The Hill, February 27, 2025)
United States - Arkansas: Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Arkansas has blocked DeepSeek, RedNote and Lemon8 across executive branch devices. (Source: Ozark Radio News, March 6, 2025).
United States - Commerce Department Bureaus: U.S. Commerce department bureaus informed staffers that DeepSeek is banned on their government devices. (Source: Reuters, March 17, 2025)
United States - Congress: Congress banned staff use of DeepSeek. (Source: Axios, January 30, 2025)
United States - Florida: State CFO Jimmy Patronis banned DeepSeek from the Florida's Department of Financial Services. (Source: CFO Dive, February 21, 2025)
United States - Georgia: Governor Brian Kemp ordered state agencies to stop using RedNote, DeepSeek, and financial trading platforms Webull, Tiger Brokers, and Moomoo, as well as the social media app Lemon8. (Source: WSB Radio, February 21, 2025)
United States - Iowa: Governor Kim Reynolds banned DeepSeek and social media apps such as RedNote from state devices, and prohibiting state agencies from subscribing or having an account. (Source: Des Moines Register, February 19, 2025)
United States - NASA: NASA is the latest U.S. federal agency to ban use of China’s DeepSeek AI technology by employees and block access to the platform. (Source: CNBC, January 31, 2025)
United States - Navy: The U.S. Navy issued a warning to its members to avoid using DeepSeek “in any capacity,” due to “potential security and ethical concerns.” (Source: CNBC, January 28, 2025)
United States - New York: The state of New York has banned DeepSeek on government devices, according to a directive from Governor Kathy Hochul. (Source: New York Governor, February 10, 2025)
United States - Oklahoma: The state has banned DeepSeek on all state-owned devices, including laptops, desktops, and mobile phones/tablets. (Source: Oklahoma Governor, March 21, 2025)
United States - Pennsylvania: The state's Treasury banned DeepSeek from all Treasury-issued devices due to concerns about privacy and security. (Source: Fox 43, February 20, 2025)
United States - Pentagon and Defense Department: U.S. Defense Department employees connected their work computers to Chinese servers to access DeepSeek’s AI chatbot for at least two days before the Pentagon moved to shut off access. (Source: Bloomberg, January 30, 2025)
United States - South Dakota: Governor Larry Rhoden and the South Dakota Bureau of Information and Telecommunications (BIT) banned DeepSeek and RedNote from South Dakota's government computers.
United States - Tennessee: Governor Bill Lee announced DeepSeek and Manus will be blocked from state computers and devices (Source: The Tennessean, March 6, 2025)
United States - Texas Texas banned DeepSeek and RedNote from state government-issued devices, according to an executive order from Texas Governor Greg Abbott. (Source: Texas Governor Greg Abbott, January 31, 2025)
United States - Virginia: Governor Glenn Youngkin issued Executive Order 46, banning the use of DeepSeek AI on state devices and state-run networks. (Source: Virginia Governor, February 11, 2025)
W-W-W
William & Mary: The university banned DeepSeek from its network, and from university-owned devices (February 18, 2025). William & Mary is based in the state of Virginia, which banned DeepSeek from state devices and state-run networks on February 11, 2025.
Note: Check back regularly for updates. Send news tips to Editorial Director Joe Panettieri (Joe@MentoreVentures.com).
