Wed Feb 05 14:02:59 UTC 2025: ## YouTuber Exposes Potential DeepSeek Data Privacy Violation, Sparking US Bill Proposal
**BERLIN, GERMANY** – A YouTuber and IT trainer, David Bombal, has ignited a firestorm of controversy after revealing evidence suggesting Chinese AI company DeepSeek is misrepresenting its data protection practices. Bombal’s investigation, detailed in a recent video, used network monitoring tools to capture data transmitted from an Android phone using DeepSeek’s services.
The results showed 51 data packets being sent to Beijing, directly contradicting DeepSeek’s claims that no user data is transmitted to China. Bombal’s analysis further revealed that Alibaba Cloud was used to route this data, raising further concerns about data handling practices.
While Bombal acknowledges further investigation is needed to determine the precise nature of the transmitted data, the findings have already sparked significant outrage online. DeepSeek’s privacy policy, which states it collects IP addresses, device identifiers, and usage data, is now being scrutinized as insufficient in light of Bombal’s findings.
The controversy has escalated to the point of a proposed US bill that could impose penalties of up to 20 years imprisonment and a $1 million fine for installing and using DeepSeek. Online commenters express serious concerns, citing the large number of users who signed up for the platform upon its release.
However, some commentators have defended DeepSeek, arguing that data transmission to China is expected given the company’s origin and that such data is commonly used for advertising purposes. They suggest Bombal’s test, while revealing, doesn’t definitively prove malicious intent.
The controversy highlights growing concerns surrounding data privacy and the potential for misleading practices by AI companies. Regulatory bodies are now facing pressure to investigate DeepSeek’s practices and ensure compliance with data protection regulations.
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