The Czech Republic has officially banned the use of artificial intelligence tools developed by Chinese startup DeepSeek within state institutions, citing cybersecurity concerns tied to potential data access by Chinese authorities, Euronews reports.

The decision was announced following a formal warning from the country’s national cybersecurity watchdog. The agency flagged risks of unauthorized data access, noting that DeepSeek — as a Chinese-based company — is obligated to cooperate with Beijing’s state security apparatus.

Prime Minister Petr Fiala said the government is taking a firm stance to protect sensitive state information and citizen data. “We acted on expert recommendations to safeguard our cybersecurity interests,” he stated.

The move places the Czech Republic among a growing list of countries distancing themselves from DeepSeek due to privacy concerns. Earlier this year, Italy blocked access to the company’s AI chatbot, while Australia also introduced similar restrictions. Last month, a German privacy commissioner urged Apple and Google to remove DeepSeek from their app stores.

Founded in 2023 in Hangzhou, DeepSeek gained rapid attention after releasing a large language model rivaling Western-developed AI systems. However, its rise has been shadowed by increasing scrutiny over China’s data laws and the lack of clear safeguards against government access.

This isn’t the first time the Czech government has rejected Chinese tech. In 2018, it phased out equipment from Huawei and ZTE after similar warnings over national security risks.

The ban on DeepSeek reflects heightened global concerns over how AI tools handle sensitive data — and which governments might gain access. the Czech Republic’s move adds to the growing debate on balancing innovation with digital sovereignty.

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