Czech Officials Prohibit Use of AI Chatbot Deepseek in Government Sector
The Chinese AI chatbot DeepSeek has faced a series of bans worldwide, with multiple countries and US states restricting its use due to significant data protection and cybersecurity concerns. The latest country to join this list is the Czech Republic, which has banned DeepSeek in state institutions and agencies.
The ban, announced by Prime Minister Petr Fiala after a cabinet meeting in Prague, comes amidst growing fears about the potential transfer and handling of personal and sensitive data by a Chinese company with potential ties to the Chinese government.
The primary reason for the ban is the unlawful transfer of user data to China, a violation of local data protection laws such as the EU’s GDPR. The Berlin Data Protection Commissioner explicitly labelled DeepSeek's data transfers as "unlawful."
Another concern is the obligation of DeepSeek’s parent company to cooperate with Chinese state authorities, raising fears of unauthorized access and surveillance of user data. This has led several governments, including the Czech Republic, to cite cybersecurity risks and unauthorized data access threats as reasons for the ban.
National security concerns also play a significant role in the bans. The US National Security Council initiated a security review, and the US Navy banned DeepSeek for security and ethical reasons. The US Department of Commerce banned its use on government devices, citing risks of leaking proprietary information to the Chinese Communist Party.
Countries like South Korea and Italy have launched investigations or outright bans due to concerns that the app could misuse personal data or expose it without consent. Italy blocked DeepSeek from app stores in January 2025 after failing to adequately address privacy concerns.
In early 2025, Australia, South Korea, Canada, and several US states (including Texas) banned the use of DeepSeek on government-issued devices. Germany is calling for Apple and Google to remove DeepSeek from their app stores due to privacy violations.
The multifaceted concerns about user privacy, data sovereignty, and national security have driven governments worldwide to restrict or ban DeepSeek, especially in sensitive government and public sector environments.
The DeepSeek app is subject to restrictions in multiple jurisdictions, with several US federal agencies, including NASA and the Department of Defense, prohibiting their employees from using the Deepseek app. The specific servers where DeepSeek data would be stored and processed, if used in the Czech Republic, are in China.
The national authority for cyber and information security conducted an analysis on the use of DeepSeek in the Czech Republic, leading to the decision to ban the AI chatbot. The Czech Republic is not the only jurisdiction to take such action, with Australia and Taiwan also imposing bans on the use of DeepSeek, similar to the Czech Republic.
In conclusion, the global bans on DeepSeek reflect a growing awareness and concern about the potential risks associated with the transfer and handling of personal and sensitive data by foreign companies, particularly those with ties to their respective governments. As AI technology continues to evolve, it is crucial for governments to carefully consider the implications of such technology on data protection, cybersecurity, and national security.
The global bans on DeepSeek also extend to concerns about artificial-intelligence technology, as the potential transfer and handling of sensitive data by foreign companies, such as DeepSeek's parent company, may pose cybersecurity threats.
The ban by the Czech Republic on DeepSeek in state institutions and agencies is a response to the use of technology that could misuse personal data or expose it without consent, threatening not only data protection laws but also national security.
