Deepseeks's AI chatbot removed from Italy's appstore amid privacy concerns

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): China-based AI startup DeepSeek is facing regulatory scrutiny in Europe after its chatbot application was removed from the App Store and Play Store in Italy. The action was taken shortly after Italy’s data protection authority (DPA) raised concerns regarding the company’s data collection, storage, and compliance with European privacy laws.The issue began when Euroconsumers, a consumer rights organization, filed a complaint questioning how DeepSeek handles user data. Following the complaint, Italy’s privacy watchdog demanded the company provide details on its data storage practices and gave a 20-day deadline for a response. However, DeepSeek’s reply was deemed inadequate, prompting authorities to restrict the company from processing data from Italian users.

Privacy and Security Concerns

The primary concern revolves around DeepSeek’s privacy policy, which states that user data may be stored on servers located in China. While the company maintains that it adheres to all applicable data protection laws, European regulators worry about potential risks, including:

Cybersecurity vulnerabilities

Data privacy violations

Misinformation risks

Italy’s regulatory action aligns with broader concerns across the European Union, where AI companies are required to comply with strict General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) policies. Other European privacy regulators have also urged AI firms to ensure full transparency in their data handling.

DeepSeek’s Growing Popularity and Ethical AI Concerns

Despite regulatory hurdles, DeepSeek’s chatbot has been gaining popularity worldwide. It has topped download charts in multiple countries, including the United States. However, questions have been raised regarding whether DeepSeek’s AI models have been trained using insights from leading US-developed AI models, such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT. This process, known as distillation, allows newer AI models to learn from existing, advanced models. OpenAI has previously stated that Chinese AI companies often attempt to extract knowledge from US-based AI models, but detecting and preventing this practice remains difficult.

US Government and National Security Concerns

DeepSeek’s operations have also caught the attention of US authorities. The US Navy has already advised its personnel against using the chatbot for both professional and personal purposes, citing ethical and security risks. Additionally, US officials are evaluating whether DeepSeek poses a potential national security threat due to concerns over data privacy and AI model training methods.

Alternate Access to DeepSeek’s AI

Despite its removal from Italian app stores, users can still access DeepSeek’s AI through alternative methods. Since DeepSeek’s AI model is open-source, individuals can download and run it locally on their devices. Additionally, platforms like Perplexity host the chatbot on servers located outside China. Perplexity’s CEO, Aravind Srinivas, has stated that their version of DeepSeek’s AI does not contain any censorship restrictions.

As AI technology continues to expand, regulatory bodies across Europe and the US are increasing their scrutiny of data protection and security risks. With Italy taking firm action against DeepSeek, other countries may follow suit in evaluating the compliance of AI firms with regional data protection laws.