Governments Worldwide Ban DeepSeek, but Individuals Continue to Embrace It

 

Rising Privacy Concerns and AI Competition Fuel Controversy / AFP

As China's generative AI chatbot DeepSeek gains unprecedented popularity, governments across the world—including the United States, South Korea, Japan, and Australia—are taking steps to ban its usage on official devices due to concerns over excessive data collection and potential national security threats. Despite these restrictions, individual users remain captivated by the technology, leading to DeepSeek's dominance in app store rankings across 157 countries.

Global Governments Move to Restrict DeepSeek Over Privacy Risks

According to the Wall Street Journal, U.S. lawmakers are set to introduce a bill that would prohibit government agencies from using DeepSeek on official devices. Representatives Darren LaHood (R-IL) and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) argue that DeepSeek poses similar risks to TikTok, necessitating stringent access limitations. If the bill is enacted, all federal agencies would be required to remove applications developed by DeepSeek's parent company, HighFlyer.

The crackdown follows allegations that DeepSeek's AI model secretly transmits user data to China Mobile, a state-owned telecommunications company previously banned from operating in the U.S. due to security concerns. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) designated China Mobile as a national security threat in 2022, reinforcing the urgency behind restricting DeepSeek's access to sensitive government data.

Other countries have adopted similar measures. South Korea has blocked DeepSeek on government computers, while Japan, Taiwan, and Australia have imposed outright bans on official devices. Italy has taken a step further by removing DeepSeek from app stores, preventing users from downloading the app altogether. Meanwhile, the European Union and the United Kingdom are closely monitoring the situation, with financial institutions and private corporations also limiting access to the chatbot.

DeepSeek Surges to No.1 in Global App Stores Despite Restrictions

Despite mounting government opposition, DeepSeek has experienced a meteoric rise in popularity. Since the launch of its latest model, DeepSeek R1, the app has claimed the No.1 download spot in 157 countries. Data from SimilarWeb indicates that DeepSeek’s web traffic skyrocketed by 615% within a single week, reaching an unprecedented 4.9 billion visits. The chatbot’s daily active users (DAU) surged from 300,000 to 33.4 million in just one month, surpassing Google’s AI-powered Gemini, which reports 10 million daily users.

PCMag highlights that these figures exclude mobile app traffic, suggesting that DeepSeek's actual user engagement may be even higher.

China’s Nationalist Sentiment Fuels DeepSeek’s Popularity

In China, DeepSeek has become a symbol of national pride, with many users celebrating its technological advancements as a direct challenge to U.S. dominance in artificial intelligence. According to the South China Morning Post, DeepSeek's DAU reached 22 million in January, surpassing the 17 million users of ByteDance’s AI model, Duobao.

The AI chatbot gained further traction during China’s Lunar New Year holiday, with discussions about its capabilities extending from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman to U.S. President Donald Trump. Many Chinese users view DeepSeek’s success as a victory in the ongoing AI arms race between China and the United States.

Uncertain Future Amidst Intensifying AI Competition and Scrutiny

While DeepSeek’s rise has been rapid, industry analysts question whether its momentum will be sustainable. As AI competition escalates, U.S. companies are expected to introduce more sophisticated models, raising the bar for DeepSeek. Additionally, heightened scrutiny over data privacy and censorship concerns could drive some users to alternative AI platforms.

PCMag warns that regulatory hurdles and potential security vulnerabilities could erode DeepSeek’s dominance over time. "As the AI chatbot market continues to evolve, DeepSeek’s traffic may eventually decline," the publication notes. "Growing concerns over data privacy and content moderation could prompt users to explore other AI options, diminishing its global reach."

For now, DeepSeek remains at the forefront of the AI revolution, with its popularity soaring despite government opposition. Whether it will withstand increasing regulatory pressures and fierce competition remains to be seen.