Thu Feb 06 01:37:56 UTC 2025: ## Global Crackdown on Chinese AI Startup DeepSeek Over Data Privacy Concerns
**[City, State] – [Date]** – DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup whose models and chatbot app recently went viral, is facing a global backlash over data privacy and security concerns. Multiple countries and agencies have banned or restricted the use of DeepSeek’s technology, citing fears of data sharing with the Chinese government.
Italy was among the first to ban the app, followed by Taiwan, which cited risks to national information security. Australia has prohibited government employees from using DeepSeek, while the US has seen widespread restrictions. The US Navy, Pentagon, NASA, and Texas state government have all banned DeepSeek’s use, with the US Congress and House of Representatives issuing warnings to staff. The Indian government is exploring hosting DeepSeek’s open-source models on local servers to address data privacy concerns. Several US federal agencies have also instructed employees to avoid the app, and hundreds of companies have blocked access through cybersecurity firms.
These actions stem from DeepSeek’s privacy policy, which states that user data is stored on servers in China, raising concerns about potential government access under Chinese law. While running DeepSeek’s models locally mitigates this risk, the widespread adoption of the app and its potential for data collection remain major concerns.
DeepSeek’s popularity, however, presents a challenge. Concerns have also been raised about DeepSeek potentially leveraging data from competitors like ChatGPT, but detecting this is proving difficult due to the high volume of traffic these popular services receive. Users worried about data privacy are advised to use open-source versions of DeepSeek’s AI models or access the chatbot through alternative platforms with US and European servers. The situation underscores the growing tension surrounding the use of AI technology from countries with differing data privacy regulations.
First Piper 