The Italian Garante halts DeepSeek’s operations, demanding clarity on personal data usage and storage amid growing AI privacy concerns.
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| Italy's data watchdog blocks Chinese AI app DeepSeek over privacy concerns, citing a lack of transparency on data collection and storage. Image: ChicHue |
Milan, Italy — January 31, 2025:
Italy's data protection authority, the Garante, has blocked access to the Chinese artificial intelligence model DeepSeek, citing concerns over a lack of transparency in its handling of personal data.
The regulator announced on Thursday that DeepSeek was no longer available for download on Apple's App Store and Google Play in Italy. This action came just a day after the authority requested details on the app’s data collection practices, including what information is gathered, its sources, the legal basis for processing, and whether user data is stored in China.
According to the Garante, the response provided by DeepSeek's developers was "totally insufficient," prompting the immediate suspension of the service in Italy. Alongside the ban, the authority has also launched an official investigation into the matter.
DeepSeek, a Chinese AI assistant that claims to operate with lower data usage and reduced costs compared to competitors, recently surged in popularity. Earlier this week, it surpassed OpenAI's ChatGPT in downloads from Apple's App Store, triggering concerns among tech investors.
The company has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the Italian regulator's decision.