China's DeepSeek AI hit by information request from Italy's data protection watchdog
Jan 29, 2025 - engadget.com
China's DeepSeek AI, a popular app on Apple's App Store, is under scrutiny by the Italian Data Protection Authority, Garante, for potential GDPR violations. Garante has requested information from DeepSeek regarding the types of personal data collected, the purposes of data collection, and whether data is stored on servers in China. DeepSeek's privacy policy confirms data transfer to secure servers in China, claiming compliance with applicable laws. Garante also seeks clarification on the data used to train DeepSeek's AI, particularly if web scraping is involved, and how users are informed about data processing.
Additionally, Microsoft and OpenAI are investigating whether DeepSeek improperly used OpenAI data for training, following a data exfiltration incident via OpenAI's API in 2024. DeepSeek has 20 days to respond to Garante's inquiries. In the US, authorities are examining the national security implications of the China-based AI chatbot, as reported by Reuters.
Key takeaways:
China's DeepSeek AI has become the top-rated free app on Apple's App Store, attracting attention from data protection authorities.
The Italian Data Protection Authority, Garante, has requested information from DeepSeek regarding data collection and storage practices, particularly concerning GDPR compliance.
DeepSeek's privacy policy states that personal data is transferred and stored on secure servers in China, in accordance with applicable data protection laws.
Microsoft and OpenAI are investigating potential unauthorized use of OpenAI data by DeepSeek, with US authorities examining national security implications.
