Italy has banned the DeepSeek AI app, citing data privacy and ethical concerns. The move follows an in-depth investigation into whether DeepSeek complies with the strict European GDPR guidelines.
Despite the ban, DeepSeek’s website currently remains functional in Italy. However, several Italian users on both iPhone and Android platforms report that they can no longer download the AI chatbot from app stores.
Italy Takes a Stand
Italy is notably the first country to impose a ban on DeepSeek, a move “adopted to protect the data of Italian users.” The directive to restrict the processing of Italian users’ data took effect immediately.
On January 28, 2025, Italy launched an inquiry into the nature of personal data DeepSeek DeepSeek collects, its intended uses, where it is stored, and if this information is used to train DeepSeek’s AI model.
DeepSeek was given 20 days to respond to these inquiries. However, the China-based AI company claimed it was not subject to EU laws. Two days later, on January 30, the Italian Data Protection Authority publicly refuted this claim, stating it was “contrary to what the Authority found,” and immediately took measures to block the app.
DeepSeek is yet to release a statement related to its banning in Italy. However, Politico reports that DeepSeek refused to cooperate with Italian authorities’ requests for information. The Irish Data Protection Commission is also seeking details from DeepSeek concerning the data of Irish nationals, and Belgium has kicked off a similar investigation.
Related Read: DeepSeek Temporarily Suspends New User Registrations Amid Major Cyberattack
Rising Privacy Concerns
The controversy around DeepSeek’s data practices continues to grow as more experts and organizations voice their apprehensions. According to the company’s privacy policy, DeepSeek collects a vast array of personal data including IP addresses, cookies, and detailed user interactions.
The policy also reveals that it gathers keystrokes and other technical information as well as assigns unique IDs to users and devices, which allows for continuous tracking across various platforms.
Additionally, it states that this data could be retained indefinitely and shared with third-party advertisers. Additionally, since DeepSeek is governed by Chinese law and stores data on servers in China, it raises national security concerns similar to those that sparked the US TikTok ban.
Related Read: How to Use TikTok in the USA Post-Ban
Major Security Risks
As DeepSeek’s popularity falters, the spotlight intensifies on its security measures—or lack thereof. For instance, cybersecurity experts from KELA have demonstrated that the app can be manipulated to produce dangerous outputs.
Also, Wiz Research uncovered an exposed DeepSeek database leaking over a million user conversations. The Italian authorities, supported by global experts and organizations, are now cautioning against the use of Chinese-linked AI tools, especially for sharing sensitive data.
Anas Hasan
February 3, 2025
1 month ago
