The world was surprised when DeepSeek, a Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) startup founded in 2023, experienced a meteoric rise in popularity. In just a short period, it surpassed ChatGPT, becoming the highest-rated free app on the U.S. App Store. DeepSeek’s R1 model offers advanced AI services similar to Google’s Gemini and OpenAI’s GPT-4, delivering human-like responses at a fraction of the cost. DeepSeek is operated by Hangzhou DeepSeek Artificial Intelligence Co., Ltd. and Beijing DeepSeek Artificial Intelligence C., Ltd., both registered in China.
The AI model’s cutting-edge capabilities and swift rise have sparked concern, particularly on data privacy, security, and transparency. In addition, its connection to China has raised important questions about how user data is handled.
One of the most pressing concerns is DeepSeek’s compliance with China’s 2023 Counter-Espionage Law, which gives the government broad authority to access company-held data. This law requires all Chinese citizens and organizations to assist the government with counter-espionage activities. If the Chinese government requests user data from DeepSeek, the company must legally hand it over – without user consent or permission.
In addition, according to its Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, DeepSeek gathers a wide range of personal information, including:
Moreover, DeepSeek was developed in China, so it must follow strict government regulations that could lead to potential censorship of topics like democracy, human rights, and political criticism. Unlike AI models that aim for balanced perspectives, DeepSeek may filter or shape responses to align with local policies, limiting access to unbiased information. Additionally, user data is primarily stored on servers in China, raising concerns about government access despite claims of privacy safeguards. If censorship filters on Large Language Models (LLMs) can be bypassed, open-source LLMs in China could gain popularity, allowing researchers to modify them freely—though this also raises risks of misuse for misinformation or propaganda.
Before using apps like DeepSeek or other AI platforms, it’s crucial to understand how your data is handled, who has access to it, and the potential risks to your privacy and security, ensuring an informed and responsible approach to using these technologies.
The AI model’s cutting-edge capabilities and swift rise have sparked concern, particularly on data privacy, security, and transparency. In addition, its connection to China has raised important questions about how user data is handled.
One of the most pressing concerns is DeepSeek’s compliance with China’s 2023 Counter-Espionage Law, which gives the government broad authority to access company-held data. This law requires all Chinese citizens and organizations to assist the government with counter-espionage activities. If the Chinese government requests user data from DeepSeek, the company must legally hand it over – without user consent or permission.
In addition, according to its Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, DeepSeek gathers a wide range of personal information, including:
- Profile information (like names and contact details)
- User input data (what you type into the app)
- Website cookies (tracking online behavior)
- Payment information (when using paid services)
- Third-party data (if you log in through platforms like Apple or Google).
Moreover, DeepSeek was developed in China, so it must follow strict government regulations that could lead to potential censorship of topics like democracy, human rights, and political criticism. Unlike AI models that aim for balanced perspectives, DeepSeek may filter or shape responses to align with local policies, limiting access to unbiased information. Additionally, user data is primarily stored on servers in China, raising concerns about government access despite claims of privacy safeguards. If censorship filters on Large Language Models (LLMs) can be bypassed, open-source LLMs in China could gain popularity, allowing researchers to modify them freely—though this also raises risks of misuse for misinformation or propaganda.
Before using apps like DeepSeek or other AI platforms, it’s crucial to understand how your data is handled, who has access to it, and the potential risks to your privacy and security, ensuring an informed and responsible approach to using these technologies.
