Australia on Tuesday issued an order restricting the use of China’s DeepSeek generative artificial intelligence app on government devices.

The Home Affairs Department of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese banned the application after receiving advice from Australian intelligence agencies that reported the app posed a significant security risk.

The ban comes after the Chinese-owned app’s launch disrupted the U.S. stock market last month.

DeepSeek has seen widespread use in the West, even as security experts question the app’s data security.

In Australia, government employees must turn their phones in this week to ensure the app is uninstalled from all federal devices. 

The minister of Home Affairs, Tony Burke, said the decision to ban DeepSeek came after guidance from his country’s intelligence agencies.

Australia is the third country to ban the use of DeepSeek on government devices after Italy and Taiwan. Some U.S. federal agencies have also moved to restrict its use on such devices. 

This follows Australia’s barring of TikTok on government devices. TikTok is owned by ByteDance, a Chinese company that faces pressure in the U.S. to sell its American branch or be shut down.

• Vaughn Cockayne can be reached at vcockayne@washingtontimes.com.