DeepSeek, a Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, faces bans and suspensions worldwide due to serious privacy and security concerns. Governments and regulators have flagged the chatbot’s data practices – raising alarms over potential national security risks and non-compliance with data protection laws. Numerous countries have already banned DeepSeek over privacy concerns.

Background

A team of researchers created DeepSeek to compete with AI models like ChatGPT and Gemini. They focused on natural language processing and deep learning. DeepSeek quickly gained attention for its strong reasoning and coding abilities. China supported its growth as part of a push for homegrown AI. The chatbot expanded fast in China and overseas. But regulators soon raised concerns about its data storage and privacy risks. This is another example of the overlap between AI and data privacy.

Why Authorities Have Banned DeepSeek

1. Data Privacy Risks

Regulators are concerned that DeepSeek stores user data on servers in China, which could allow Chinese authorities to access it. This raises serious questions about user privacy and the risk of foreign surveillance.

2. Regulatory Non-Compliance

Investigations have shown that DeepSeek may not meet data protection laws like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union. For instance, Italian regulators blocked the chatbot after finding its privacy policy inadequate.

3. National Security Threats

Authorities fear that sensitive government or corporate data entered into DeepSeek could be accessed by foreign entities. As a result, several governments, including those in the United States and Australia, have banned the chatbot on official devices to reduce security risks.

Countries and Organisations That Have Banned DeepSeek

  • Australia: The government banned DeepSeek on all federal devices, citing it as an “unacceptable risk” to national security.
  • Italy: The Italian Data Protection Authority halted DeepSeek’s operations due to privacy law violations.
  • South Korea: The country’s Personal Information Protection Commission suspended new downloads of the app, citing non-compliance with local data regulations.
  • Taiwan: Government agencies were warned not to use DeepSeek due to cybersecurity concerns.
  • United States: Texas banned DeepSeek on state government devices, while federal agencies like NASA and the U.S. Navy restricted its use.

DeepSeek’s Response and Future Plans

DeepSeek maintains that it operates within legal frameworks and has removed its app from certain markets in response to regulatory scrutiny. The company is also working to launch its new AI model, R2, which is designed to improve reasoning and coding capabilities, particularly beyond English.

The Future of AI Regulation

As AI technology advances rapidly, governments are stepping up oversight to protect data privacy and national security. DeepSeek’s case underscores the growing need for AI companies to comply with strict international data protection laws.

As AI adoption continues to increase, expect more scrutiny on how AI chatbots handle personal and sensitive data. For DeepSeek to rebuild trust, it will need to improve its privacy policies and adhere to global regulations.

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