Amid concerns about data privacy and security, the Chinese AI platform DeepSeek has explicitly stated that it is sending U.S. user data directly to China. This revelation comes in the wake of recent regulatory actions aimed at TikTok, another Chinese-owned app, which have heightened scrutiny over Chinese tech companies operating in the U.S.
After the crackdown on TikTok, users have flocked to the DeepSeek application, which gained acclaim for its generative AI capabilities that rival major U.S. platforms such as OpenAI’s offerings. In a bid to circumvent U.S. sanctions, DeepSeek implemented strategies during its model development. However, the platform recently faced a significant setback, limiting new users amid reports of a "large-scale malicious attack."
DeepSeek provides various AI models and services that can be accessed via its mobile apps or web interface. Users have reported that the platform censors content that critiques the Chinese government. Alarmingly, DeepSeek seems to collect extensive user data, possibly even more than TikTok, and transfers it back to China—a move many privacy advocates view as deeply concerning.
The company’s privacy policy clearly states that it stores user data on secure servers in the People’s Republic of China, raising significant alarms about data security and privacy. The data collected includes user input, chat history, account setup details such as email and phone numbers, and automatically gathered information about device usage.
Experts suggest that users should exercise caution when using such AI applications. Many warn against providing sensitive information to AI systems like DeepSeek, especially given the lack of transparency surrounding data handling and potential misuse.
DeepSeek reserves the right to use user data for various purposes, including improving the service and complying with legal obligations. As Chinese laws impose certain requirements on companies regarding data sharing with the state, further scrutiny of these practices is likely. The experience with TikTok serves as a cautionary tale of the potential risks posed by foreign-owned tech applications that operate in the U.S., particularly those that handle personal data and interactions.
With the growing popularity of DeepSeek, lawmakers in the U.S. may look to tighten regulations governing such platforms to address the potential risks involved in data collection and user privacy.
