Taiwan's Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA) has announced a ban on the use of DeepSeek, a new artificial intelligence model from China, by government employees. This decision is due to fears that the AI could leak sensitive data to Beijing, posing a threat to national security. The ban affects central and local government agencies, public schools, state-owned businesses, and other related institutions. MODA referenced a 2019 regulation that restricts the use of ICT products that may endanger national cybersecurity.
DeepSeek has faced criticism from human rights activists and international experts for spreading state propaganda, censoring sensitive topics, and collecting personal data. The Campaign for Uyghur highlighted concerns about the AI's aggressive data collection practices, which include storing personal information on servers in China. This has led to fears of potential misuse by the Chinese Communist Party, known for human rights violations.
Other countries have taken similar actions against DeepSeek. Italy's data protection authority recently blocked the AI model due to transparency issues, and officials in the US and Australia have also expressed privacy concerns.
Taiwan is an island located in East Asia, near China. It has its own government and operates separately from China, although China claims it as part of its territory.
An AI model is a computer program that can learn and make decisions like a human. It uses data to understand patterns and perform tasks, such as recognizing images or understanding speech.
DeepSeek is a specific AI model developed in China. It has been criticized for not being safe because it might spread false information and collect people's personal data without permission.
The Ministry of Digital Affairs is a part of Taiwan's government that focuses on technology and digital policies. They make rules about how technology should be used safely in the country.
Security concerns mean that there are worries about something being unsafe or harmful. In this case, Taiwan is worried that DeepSeek could be dangerous for their national security.
ICT stands for Information and Communication Technology. ICT products include things like computers, software, and internet services that help people communicate and share information.
Propaganda is information that is spread to influence people's opinions or beliefs. It often presents only one side of an argument and can be misleading or biased.
Censoring topics means hiding or blocking certain information from being seen or discussed. This can prevent people from knowing the full truth about a subject.
Collecting personal data means gathering information about people, like their names, addresses, or what they do online. This can be a privacy concern if done without permission.
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