Italy Halts DeepSeek
The state regulator has prohibited the Chinese AI app, stating that it possesses “totally insufficient” information regarding its management of personal data. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Italy has become the first country to ban the Chinese AI model, DeepSeek, after its data protection authority, Garante, blocked the app on Thursday due to concerns regarding its handling of personal data.
Developed by Hangzhou-based startup DeepSeek Inc., the AI assistant, also named DeepSeek, was released last week and quickly gained popularity, surpassing US-based OpenAI’s ChatGPT as the leading AI assistant on Apple’s App Store.
The ban followed a request from Garante for comprehensive information regarding the application’s data usage. This included details about what personal data is collected, its sources, intended purposes, legal grounds, and whether the data is stored in China.
The situation came to light after Euroconsumers, a consumer rights organization, lodged a complaint against DeepSeek regarding its data practices. In response, the Italian authority asked for detailed information on the company’s data storage protocols, giving DeepSeek a 20-day deadline to respond.
However, according to Garante, DeepSeek’s initial response was deemed “totally insufficient.” The statement highlighted that “contrary to the authority’s findings, the companies declared that they do not operate in Italy, and that European legislation does not apply to them,” despite millions of global downloads of the app within just a few days.
Garante noted that the decision took “immediate effect” and commenced an investigation, emphasizing that “the data of millions of Italians is at risk.”
Italy is not alone in its concerns. On Wednesday, the Irish Data Protection Commission revealed it had contacted DeepSeek to obtain details on how the company manages the data of Irish citizens. Moreover, South Korea’s privacy watchdog plans to submit a similar request, as reported by Reuters.
The US Navy has also taken precautions, advising its personnel to refrain from using the Chinese-developed chatbot for both work and personal purposes due to worries about ethical and security issues.
DeepSeek’s chatbot has intensified competition in the AI landscape, contributing to significant market shifts earlier this week, where major tech companies like Nvidia faced substantial losses. Investors are increasingly anxious that DeepSeek’s cost-effective AI solutions could disrupt well-established industry leaders.
The new AI assistant has quickly caught up to US generative AI frontrunners, reportedly achieving similar performance on key metrics while being available at a vastly lower cost.
Sophie Wagner contributed to this report for TROIB News
Developed by Hangzhou-based startup DeepSeek Inc., the AI assistant, also named DeepSeek, was released last week and quickly gained popularity, surpassing US-based OpenAI’s ChatGPT as the leading AI assistant on Apple’s App Store.
The ban followed a request from Garante for comprehensive information regarding the application’s data usage. This included details about what personal data is collected, its sources, intended purposes, legal grounds, and whether the data is stored in China.
The situation came to light after Euroconsumers, a consumer rights organization, lodged a complaint against DeepSeek regarding its data practices. In response, the Italian authority asked for detailed information on the company’s data storage protocols, giving DeepSeek a 20-day deadline to respond.
However, according to Garante, DeepSeek’s initial response was deemed “totally insufficient.” The statement highlighted that “contrary to the authority’s findings, the companies declared that they do not operate in Italy, and that European legislation does not apply to them,” despite millions of global downloads of the app within just a few days.
Garante noted that the decision took “immediate effect” and commenced an investigation, emphasizing that “the data of millions of Italians is at risk.”
Italy is not alone in its concerns. On Wednesday, the Irish Data Protection Commission revealed it had contacted DeepSeek to obtain details on how the company manages the data of Irish citizens. Moreover, South Korea’s privacy watchdog plans to submit a similar request, as reported by Reuters.
The US Navy has also taken precautions, advising its personnel to refrain from using the Chinese-developed chatbot for both work and personal purposes due to worries about ethical and security issues.
DeepSeek’s chatbot has intensified competition in the AI landscape, contributing to significant market shifts earlier this week, where major tech companies like Nvidia faced substantial losses. Investors are increasingly anxious that DeepSeek’s cost-effective AI solutions could disrupt well-established industry leaders.
The new AI assistant has quickly caught up to US generative AI frontrunners, reportedly achieving similar performance on key metrics while being available at a vastly lower cost.
Sophie Wagner contributed to this report for TROIB News
