Italy’s Privacy Authority Seeks Clarity on DeepSeek’s Data Handling

 

Italy’s Data Regulator Seeks Answers from DeepSeek on Data Protection

Italy’s data protection authority, known as the Garante, announced on Tuesday that it is investigating Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) company DeepSeek regarding its handling of personal data. The regulator is seeking detailed information on the nature and scope of data collection, including what personal data is gathered, its sources, the purposes for which it is used, the legal basis for processing, and whether the data is stored in China.

DeepSeek and its affiliated companies have been given 20 days to respond to the inquiry, marking one of the first regulatory actions targeting the Chinese AI startup. The move signals increasing scrutiny over AI-driven platforms and their compliance with privacy regulations, particularly within the European Union.

Meanwhile, in the United States, the White House is also examining the national security implications of DeepSeek’s AI technology. The company, which markets itself as a cost-effective alternative to leading U.S.-based AI models, made headlines after its free AI assistant surpassed OpenAI’s ChatGPT in downloads on Apple’s App Store in the U.S., triggering a selloff in tech stocks earlier this week.

Italy’s Garante has been one of Europe’s most proactive regulatory bodies concerning AI governance. In 2023, it briefly banned Microsoft-backed ChatGPT over concerns regarding potential breaches of EU privacy laws. This latest move against DeepSeek underscores the regulator’s ongoing commitment to ensuring AI technologies operate within legal data protection frameworks.

The outcome of the investigation could have significant implications for DeepSeek’s operations in Europe and beyond, as regulators worldwide continue to tighten their oversight of AI and data privacy practices.