Amid heightened concerns about data security, the Chinese AI platform DeepSeek has announced that it explicitly sends large amounts of user data from the United States back to China. Following recent scrutiny of TikTok, many users have transitioned to DeepSeek, attracted by its advanced generative AI capabilities that rival those of US-owned competitors like OpenAI.
DeepSeek, backed by a notable Chinese hedge fund, has quickly gained traction after launching its new open-source AI model. However, the platform revealed that it had to implement workarounds to navigate US technical sanctions. The company recently limited new sign-ups due to what it described as a large-scale malicious attack on its services.
The majority of DeepSeek’s users access the service through mobile apps or a web interface, which allows engagement in conversational prompts and search functionality. While DeepSeek has not yet established a public relations department and did not respond to inquiries about data privacy, concerns are growing regarding the extent of user data collection. Reports indicate that DeepSeek’s platform actively censors content critical of China and collects extensive information, including chat messages, sending it back to its servers in China.
DeepSeek’s privacy policy makes it clear that all user interactions—questions, prompts, and uploaded files—are potentially gathered and stored on servers located in the People’s Republic of China. The policy categorizes collected information into three main types: user-provided input, automatically collected data, and data obtained from third parties. Users can delete their chat history, but the caution remains that no sensitive or personal data should be shared with AI platforms.
The privacy risks are underscored by the platform’s operation within a legal environment where Chinese tech companies face certain obligations to share data with government authorities upon request. This raises significant concerns, especially given the growing geopolitical tensions between the US and China.
DeepSeek’s rapid user adoption and substantial data collection practices may provoke actions similar to the TikTok scrutiny, as lawmakers seek to safeguard personal information amid an increasingly complex digital landscape. Experts suggest that future regulatory measures could emerge, similarly aimed at AI companies deemed to pose privacy risks.
