Italy’s Data Protection Authority (GPDP) has blocked access to the Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) application, DeepSeek, over concerns regarding user privacy. The decision was made on Thursday after the authority examined how the app collects personal data from users and questioned the legal grounds for doing so.
The GPDP has ordered the companies behind the AI service, Hangzhou DeepSeek Artificial Intelligence and Beijing DeepSeek Artificial Intelligence, to immediately halt access to the personal data of Italian users. The action came after the companies’ communications were found to be inadequate, offering insufficient clarity on how they handle users’ data. According to the GPDP, the restraining order was necessary to safeguard the privacy of Italian users.
In addition to restricting the data processing activities, the GPDP has launched a formal investigation into DeepSeek. This follows a similar move by the authority in March 2023 when it conducted an investigation into OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which faced temporary restrictions due to similar privacy concerns.
DeepSeek, a Chinese tech startup, recently launched its open-source AI model, DeepSeek-R1, on January 20. This low-cost model, developed using fewer chips, aims to challenge Western dominance in the AI sector. The company’s efforts to innovate in the AI field have now been overshadowed by the privacy concerns raised by Italy’s regulatory body, with the investigation into its data practices still ongoing.
The move underscores the growing scrutiny of Chinese AI companies in the global market, particularly regarding data privacy and user protection.
