Italy issues first data watchdog request to DeepSeek: ‘Millions of Italians’ data could be at risk’
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The Chinese AI company DeepSeek has been making waves with its large language model, sparking debates over whether it’s an industry game-changer or part of an elaborate strategy by its hedge fund parent company to short Nvidia and other tech stocks. Whatever the case, DeepSeek’s meteoric rise has now caught the attention of data protection authorities.
In what seems to be the first major action since DeepSeek went viral, Euroconsumers — a coalition of European consumer groups — and the Italian Data Protection Authority (DPA) have filed a complaint regarding its compliance with GDPR, Europe’s data protection regulation.
Concerns Over Personal Data and GDPR Compliance
The Italian DPA confirmed it has sent DeepSeek a formal request for information, citing concerns about the potential misuse of personal data. “The data of millions of Italians is at risk,” it stated. The company now has 20 days to respond.
A significant concern is that DeepSeek, which operates out of China, stores its collected data in its home country. According to its privacy policy, data transfers to China are conducted “in accordance with the requirements of applicable data protection laws.” However, Euroconsumers and the Italian DPA want more transparency.
They’ve asked DeepSeek to clarify what personal data it collects, where it sources this data, and how it uses it — including for AI training. Additionally, they’re seeking details about the servers in China where the data is stored and the legal basis for processing this information.
The DPA also raised questions about DeepSeek’s methods of informing users — both registered and unregistered — if their data is collected through web scraping.
Concerns About Minors and Age Verification
Another issue flagged by Euroconsumers is the absence of safeguards for minors. Although DeepSeek’s policy states it isn’t intended for users under 18, there’s no effective age verification system in place. For users aged 14 to 18, the company merely suggests reading the privacy policy with an adult, which raises concerns about how it handles minors’ data.
This scrutiny comes after Euroconsumers successfully brought a case against Grok last year for misusing personal data to train its AI.
European Commission Weighs In
The DeepSeek controversy also came up at a European Commission press conference. When asked about security, privacy, and censorship concerns related to the app, Thomas Regnier, Commission Spokesperson for Tech Sovereignty, emphasized that it’s too early to discuss investigations.
“The services offered in Europe will respect our rules,” Regnier commented, noting that the EU’s AI Act applies to all AI services in the region. He declined to elaborate on whether DeepSeek complies with these rules or if its censorship of politically sensitive topics in China violates Europe’s free speech protections. “These are very early stages,” he added. “Our framework is solid enough to tackle potential issues if they are here.”
What’s Next for DeepSeek?
As DeepSeek faces mounting scrutiny, it’s unclear how the company will address these concerns. Euroconsumers and the Italian DPA are the first to act, but they likely won’t be the last. As AI continues to evolve, the spotlight on data privacy and ethical practices will only grow stronger.
We’ve reached out to DeepSeek for comment regarding the Italian DPA’s complaint and will update this article as new information emerges.
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