Czech Government Bans DeepSeek in Public Administration

Update: July 9, 2025

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What happened?

• The Czech government, led by Prime Minister Petr Fiala, has officially banned all Chinese AI startup DeepSeek services—like chatbots and web tools—from its public administration offices

• This decision was triggered by warnings from the Czech national cybersecurity watchdog: DeepSeek must store data on servers in China and might be legally obligated to share that data with Chinese government agencies.

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Why is this important?

1. Data security risks
   Sensitive information processed by DeepSeek in Czech government systems could possibly be accessed by third parties in China

2. Global tech reaction
   Countries like Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Australia have already limited or banned DeepSeek, citing similar concerns. Germany has even asked Apple and Google to remove the app from app stores for potential GDPR violations.

3. A pattern of caution
   This is part of the Czech Republic’s broader approach: it previously blocked Chinese hardware/software giants such as Huawei and ZTE over security fears.

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What is DeepSeek?

• Founded in July 2023 in Hangzhou, China, by Liang Wenfeng and financed by the High-Flyer hedge fund.

• Reached international attention in January 2025 with its R1 model—an advanced AI chatbot that performed similarly to OpenAI’s GPT-4, but at lower cost.

• Claimed to train its model using much less computing power and money than Western competitors.

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Broader concerns

• Privacy & censorship:
  Researchers found that DeepSeek models may intentionally omit politically sensitive topics, suggesting internal censorship.

• Security flaws:
  Academics have identified possible vulnerabilities—DeepSeek-R1 was reportedly vulnerable to harmful prompt attacks, with a 100% success rate in some tests.

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So what now?

• Immediate effects: Czech public agencies must stop using DeepSeek tools in everyday operations.

• Future implications:

  • Czech authorities may review other AI or tech platforms for similar risks.

  • The EU and other democratic governments continue evaluating and sometimes banning Chinese AI tools based on data protection laws.

  • DeepSeek itself may lose influence in Western markets unless it improves transparency, shifts data storage outside China, and strengthens security.

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Why this matters to beginners

• Data security matters:
  Companies that store or share personal data across borders may fall under foreign government rules. Governments must protect citizens’ information.

• AI is global and political:
  Even private tools like chatbots can become national-security subjects when countries fear foreign influence.

• Awareness is key:
  If you’re an administrator, educator, or just a user, know where your AI tools keep data—and who might see it.

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Extra background: DeepSeek around the world

• Italy & Australia: Already blocked its government use in January 2025.

• Germany: Issued official GDPR complaints and is pushing for app store removal.

• South Korea & Japan: Government offices and some companies have also restricted DeepSeek.

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In summary

The Czech Republic’s ban on DeepSeek reflects growing global caution around Chinese-origin AI platforms. Concerns include:

• Cross-border data storage and government access

• Privacy and security compliance with EU laws

• Embedded censorship and safety vulnerabilities

As AI becomes more widespread, it’s vital to look beyond what the tool does—and ask how and where your data is handled.