DeepSeek, an artificial intelligence (AI) startup that claims to offer an AI model rivaling ChatGPT at a significantly lower cost, is now confronting heightened scrutiny from governments and regulatory bodies across multiple countries. The increased oversight stems from widespread concerns regarding DeepSeek’s security policies and, particularly, its data privacy practices.
A primary point of contention is DeepSeek’s practice of storing personal data, including user requests to its AI program and uploaded files, on computers located in China. This practice has triggered alarm bells globally, leading to various actions by national authorities:
- Australia has banned DeepSeek from all government devices.
- Germany has requested that Apple and Google remove the DeepSeek app from their respective app stores due to data safety concerns.
- India’s finance ministry has advised its employees to refrain from using AI tools like DeepSeek for official purposes, citing potential risks to confidentiality.
- Italy’s antitrust watchdog is currently investigating DeepSeek for allegedly failing to adequately warn users about the possibility of generating false information. The app was previously blocked in Italy due to insufficient transparency on personal data usage.
- South Korea temporarily suspended new downloads of the app after DeepSeek admitted to non-compliance with data protection rules, though the service has since become available again.
- Taiwan has imposed a ban on government departments using DeepSeek, citing security risks and concerns over potential censorship and sensitive data ending up in mainland China.
- The Netherlands’ privacy watchdog is actively investigating DeepSeek’s data collection practices and has issued a public warning urging caution; the Dutch government has also prohibited civil servants from using the app.
- In the United States, the Trump administration is reportedly considering imposing penalties that could restrict DeepSeek from acquiring U.S. technology and limit American access to its services.
This global backlash underscores the growing regulatory focus on data governance, security, and privacy practices within the rapidly expanding AI industry, particularly concerning companies with data processing operations in China.
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