Wed Jan 29 05:48:48 UTC 2025: ## Italian Regulator Investigates Chinese AI App DeepSeek Over Data Privacy Concerns
**Rome, Italy** – Italy’s data protection authority, the Garante, has launched an investigation into the Chinese AI model DeepSeek, demanding information about its data collection practices. The regulator is seeking details on what personal data is collected, its sources, intended use, legal basis, and whether data is stored in China. DeepSeek and its affiliates have a 20-day deadline to respond. This action marks one of the first regulatory probes targeting the Chinese AI startup, which recently surpassed OpenAI’s ChatGPT in Apple’s US App Store rankings, triggering a tech stock selloff. The Garante, known for its proactive stance on AI regulation (including a temporary ban on ChatGPT in 2023), is one of Europe’s most active AI watchdogs. Meanwhile, the White House is reportedly examining the app’s national security implications.
First Piper 