In the current era, governments around the world are taking different positions on artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT, a generative artificial intelligence chatbot created by OpenAI. While many countries have embraced the technology, others have limited access or banned it altogether due to political, cultural, or security concerns. In 2025, ChatGPT will be unavailable in 20 countries due to government censorship or privacy laws.
The source of information is Visual Capitalist.
However, there are some countries where ChatGPT has not been banned due to government action, as OpenAI does not support accounts there.
ChatGPT is blocked by the governments of China, North Korea, Iran, Cuba, Syria, Russia, Afghanistan, Central African Republic, Eritrea, Libya, South Sudan, Sudan, Yemen, Bhutan, Eswatini, Chad, Burundi, and DRC and does not support OpenAI accounts in Hong Kong or Belarus.
Government Ban
China, North Korea, and Iran, which have imposed a ban on ChatGPT, have strict internet controls. The ruling governments of these countries restrict access to foreign digital platforms, often citing information control and political stability as reasons.
For example, China, now the fastest-growing power in AI, has users in the country accessing several LLMs (Large Language Models) developed by domestic companies, including Alibaba’s Qwen, DeepSeek, Baichuan, and Tencent-backed Hunyuan.
Meanwhile, in tense zones like Syria, Afghanistan, and Yemen, bans are linked to both security concerns and limited infrastructure, according to Visual Capitalist.
Not supported in this region
Notably, not all countries have active bans. In places like Hong Kong and Belarus, ChatGPT is unavailable because OpenAI does not support accounts there, largely due to business, regulatory, or legal complications.
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