AI Tools Banned in Government Offices Over Security Fears

Recent developments in February 2025 indicate that several governments have taken steps to ban or restrict the use of AI tools like ChatGPT and DeepSeek in government offices due to security concerns:

India: The Indian Finance Ministry has issued a directive banning the use of AI tools such as ChatGPT and DeepSeek on official devices. This decision was made to protect sensitive government data from potential security breaches. The circular, dated January 29, 2025, emphasizes the risks associated with AI applications handling confidential information on office computers. The move is part of a broader caution regarding AI and data security, aligning with India's steps towards enhancing data privacy laws like the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023. 

Australia: The Australian government has banned the use of DeepSeek on all government devices, following advice from intelligence and security agencies that highlighted DeepSeek as posing an "unacceptable risk" to national security due to its Chinese origin and associated data handling practices.

Taiwan: Taiwan has similarly banned government use of DeepSeek AI, citing it as a security risk. This decision was made to safeguard the country's information security, reflecting ongoing geopolitical tensions and concerns about data privacy and sovereignty.

United States: Although not directly related to the current year's events, there was a precedent set by the US Space Force in 2023, which implemented a temporary ban on AI tools like ChatGPT over data aggregation risks. This shows a pattern of caution among government entities regarding AI tools.

These bans reflect a global trend where governments are increasingly wary of the data handling practices of AI tools, particularly those that operate on external servers and could potentially compromise sensitive information. The actions underscore a tension between leveraging AI for efficiency and safeguarding national and institutional data security. 

These decisions come at a time when AI technologies are advancing rapidly, and governments are still grappling with how to integrate these tools safely into their operations, often leading to temporary or permanent restrictions until more secure solutions or regulations are in place.