The state regulator has banned the Chinese AI app, citing “totally insufficient” information about its handling of personal data
Italy has become the first country to ban the Chinese AI model, DeepSeek, after its data protection authority blocked the app on Thursday, citing concerns over its handling of personal data.
Developed by Hangzhou-based startup DeepSeek Inc., the AI assistant of the same name was released last week and has become an online sensation after toppling US-based OpenAI’s ChatGPT as the most popular AI assistant on Apple’s App Store.
The removal followed a request by the authority, Garante, for detailed information about the application’s data usage, including what personal data is collected, its sources, the intended purposes, legal grounds, and whether the data is stored in China.
The issue arose after Euroconsumers, a consumer rights group, filed a complaint against DeepSeek over its handling of personal data. In response, the Italian watchdog requested detailed information about the company’s data storage practices, giving DeepSeek 20 days to reply.
However, DeepSeek’s initial response was considered “totally insufficient,” Garante said in a statement.
“Contrary to the authority’s findings, the companies declared that they do not operate in Italy, and that European legislation does not apply to them,’‘ the statement said, noting that the app had been downloaded by millions of people around the globe in just a few days.
The regulator added that the decision had “immediate effect” and that it had launched an investigation into the matter as “the data of millions of Italians is at risk.”
The Italian watchdog was not alone in raising concerns. On Wednesday, the Irish Data Protection Commission told TechCrunch that it had sent a request to DeepSeek for details on how the company processes the data of Irish citizens. South Korea’s privacy watchdog also plans to send a similar request, according to Reuters.
The US Navy has already advised its personnel to avoid using the Chinese-developed chatbot, both for work and personal use, citing concerns over ethical and security risks.
DeepSeek’s new chatbot has raised the stakes in the AI race, shaking up markets earlier this week with major tech companies like Nvidia experiencing significant losses. Investors are worried that DeepSeek’s cost-effective AI solutions could disrupt established industry giants.
The new AI assistant has rapidly closed the gap with US generative AI leaders, reportedly achieving similar performance on key indicators, while being offered at a fraction of the cost.
