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Taiwan has prohibited all government agencies and critical infrastructure service providers from using China's emerging "DeepFake" AI technology due to security concerns. In a statement issued on Friday, the Ministry of Digital Affairs explained that the controversial technology could facilitate cross-border data transfers, posing a threat to the confidentiality of sensitive information.
Launched last January, "DeepFake" offers an open-source AI platform capable of mimicking human logic, sparking international concerns due to its competitive capabilities, which rival leading global AI technologies. Reports also suggest that "DeepFake" was developed at a low cost compared to its competitors, enabling the creation of advanced AI applications without the need for significant hardware investments. The free "DeepFake" app, named after the company, generated global attention and topped download charts in several countries.
However, the company faces growing challenges as governments and global corporations assess the cybersecurity risks and the potential for "DeepFake" to share collected data with the Chinese government. This has led to stricter measures by several countries. Italy's privacy regulator banned the app, the UK issued warnings, and the U.S. Pentagon restricted access to it. Additionally, numerous companies, including law firms, have banned their employees from using "DeepFake" tools.
In Taiwan's case, the Ministry of Digital Services emphasized that no official or sensitive information should be handled using "DeepFake" technology, citing the potential threat it poses to national information security.