Islam Times - Italy Blocks Chinese AI Model DeepSeek Over Data Privacy Concerns

Islam Times - Italy’s data protection authority has blocked the Chinese artificial intelligence model DeepSeek, citing insufficient transparency regarding its use of personal data.

The watchdog, known as the Garante, said on Thursday that it had taken action after DeepSeek failed to provide adequate information about the personal data it collects, its sources, intended purposes, legal basis, and whether the data is stored in China.

DeepSeek was no longer accessible on Wednesday via Apple or Google app stores in Italy, a day after the authority requested details on its data practices. The Garante stated that the information provided by the Chinese companies behind the chatbot was "totally insufficient."

The regulator emphasized that its decision, aimed at protecting Italian users’ data, had "immediate effect" and that it had also launched an investigation.

DeepSeek did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Last week, the Chinese AI model introduced a free assistant that it claims operates with lower data consumption and at a fraction of the cost of competing services. Earlier this week, it surpassed US rival ChatGPT in downloads from Apple’s app store, triggering concerns among technology investors.

Meanwhile, Australian government agencies and critical infrastructure providers have been advised to ban DeepSeek over national security concerns.

CyberCX, Australia’s largest cybersecurity firm, issued a threat advisory on Friday, warning that it is “almost certain” the app and the data it collects are subject to control by the Chinese government. The advisory urged a ban on DeepSeek for government devices.

“We assess with high confidence that the DeepSeek AI Assistant app produces biased outputs that align with Chinese Communist Party (CCP) strategic objectives and narratives and collects user personal information from their device and stores this information in China,” the advisory stated.