Microsoft has officially prohibited its employees from using the DeepSeek App on both desktop and mobile platforms.
While the decision might seem unexpected at first, the tech giant has cited strong reasons centered around security risks and propaganda concerns.
Clear Message from Microsoft Leadership
Brad Smith, Microsoft’s vice chairman and president, clarified the company’s position during a Senate hearing.
He emphasized that DeepSeek is not approved for employee use under any circumstances, and notably, the App isn’t even listed on Microsoft’s own app store, underscoring the seriousness of the company’s concerns.
The China Connection: Data Storage and Censorship
So what exactly is the issue? It comes down to where DeepSeek stores user data—on servers located in China.
This raises significant red flags because Chinese laws can compel companies to share data with the government upon request.
Additionally, DeepSeek has been reported to censor topics that are sensitive to Chinese authorities, making it problematic from a content transparency and freedom of information standpoint.
A Partial Paradox: Azure Cloud Support
Interestingly, despite restricting employee use of the app, Microsoft did take a more nuanced approach earlier this year by offering DeepSeek’s R1 model on its Azure cloud service.
This wasn’t a blanket ban on all DeepSeek-related tools but rather a targeted restriction to safeguard internal corporate use.
The Bigger Picture: Data Security and Trust
Ultimately, Microsoft’s actions reflect a broader commitment to data protection and risk mitigation.
The move signals that the company is taking proactive steps to ensure that the technology it supports and uses doesn’t inadvertently expose users or itself to surveillance, censorship, or misinformation risks.
Note: We are also on WhatsApp, LinkedIn, Google News, and YouTube, to get the latest news updates. Subscribe to our Channels. WhatsApp– Click Here, Google News– Click Here, YouTube – Click Here, and LinkedIn– Click Here.
