Government agencies in the Czech Republic have prohibited the use of the artificial intelligence chatbot, DeepSeek. - Czech authorities have prohibited the use of AI chatbot Deepseek
The Czech Republic has imposed a ban on the use of AI chatbot DeepSeek in government agencies and institutions, following concerns about potential data breaches and foreign surveillance threats. The decision was made based on an analysis by the national cyber and information security agency of the Czech Republic [1].
Prime Minister Petr Fiala announced the ban after a cabinet meeting in Prague, citing the need to protect sensitive data from potential access by Chinese government agencies [2]. The ban applies to all products and web services of the AI developer DeepSeek.
The move is an important step towards strengthening the cybersecurity of the Czech Republic. Similar concerns about data protection have led several US states, including Texas, and countries like Australia and Taiwan to ban DeepSeek on government devices [3].
In Germany, government agencies and experts have expressed data protection concerns about the use of AI, and the Czech Republic's ban on DeepSeek aligns with these concerns [4]. The ban does not affect the use of DeepSeek in private businesses or individuals in the Czech Republic.
DeepSeek has been under scrutiny for its data handling practices, including storing user-submitted prompts and files on servers in China, which raises concerns about privacy and data sovereignty [1]. The US Department of Defense and NASA have prohibited their employees from using the DeepSeek app over similar concerns [6].
The bipartisan bill in the US aims to ban all AI systems controlled by foreign adversaries from federal use, further emphasizing the global concern over AI data security [5]. At present, the Czech Republic has not specified any alternative AI chatbot for government use.
- The employment policy of the Czech Republic now includes a ban on the use of the AI chatbot DeepSeek in government agencies and institutions, a decision driven primarily by concerns about cybersecurity and potential data breaches.
- The need for enhanced technology policies, particularly in the area of artificial-intelligence, has been highlighted in the Czech Republic, as demonstrated by their ban on DeepSeek, due to allegations of data breaches and foreign surveillance threats.
- The Czech Republic's government has expressed concerns about data privacy and sovereignty with regards to AI systems, particularly in light of the scrutiny faced by DeepSeek, leading to its ban on such systems controlled by foreign adversaries, as seen in the ongoing bipartisan bill in the US.
