DeepSeek and the digital battleground: China’s AI influence abroad

September 5, 2025

China's DeepSeek R1, launched in January 2025, has disrupted the AI landscape by providing an affordable, open-source AI model that challenges Western dominance in the field. The Chinese government is strategically promoting this technology to developing nations through initiatives like the Digital Silk Road and the proposed Global AI Cooperation Organization, positioning China as a key tech partner for the Global South. However, research indicates DeepSeek aligns its outputs with Chinese Communist Party (CCP) viewpoints and could serve as a vehicle for exporting political narratives and propaganda.

Who is affected

Developing nations in the Global South that are adopting DeepSeek technology
Users of DeepSeek AI who receive information aligned with CCP viewpoints
Citizens in countries where AI surveillance technology is being deployed
Governments struggling to maintain technological sovereignty
People in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and other regions targeted by AI-powered propaganda operations
Social media users exposed to AI-generated content and bot networks

What action is being taken

China is actively promoting DeepSeek abroad and offering it as an adaptable AI system to the Global South
The Indonesian government is planning to develop its own local model of DeepSeek
Australia, South Korea, and Taiwan have banned DeepSeek on government devices
China is utilizing AI technologies to create and disseminate propaganda and manipulated content
Chinese companies are using AI to collect data from social media platforms and create "humanlike bot networks"
The United States is competing with China in AI governance to protect its global economic interests

Why it matters

DeepSeek challenges assumptions that only wealthy nations with large corporations can develop cutting-edge AI
China's AI diplomacy could reshape regional power structures in its favor
The technology enables sophisticated manipulation of public opinion through AI-generated content
Chinese political narratives can be exported to other countries through adapted LLMs
Surveillance technologies raise concerns about impacts on democratic institutions and civil liberties
China's positioning as a leader in global AI governance could normalize the use of AI for surveillance and propaganda

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: Global Voices