Chinese AI Chatbot DeepSeek Faces Global Restrictions Over Data Privacy Concerns

Despite its rapid adoption in China, DeepSeek's chatbot R1 is under scrutiny from multiple countries citing national security and privacy risks.

DeepSeek's R1 chatbot has gained attention for rivaling American AI models at a lower cost, prompting its integration into products by Tencent, Baidu, and BYD in China.
Several nations, including Italy, Australia, South Korea, and Taiwan, have restricted or banned DeepSeek over concerns about data privacy and potential security risks.
South Korea temporarily removed DeepSeek from app stores, citing unresolved issues with user data handling, while the U.S. is considering a ban on its use in government systems.
Critics highlight China's legal framework, which requires companies to share user data with the government upon request, fueling global apprehension about DeepSeek's operations.
DeepSeek's emergence underscores China's growing investment in AI development, challenging the dominance of U.S. tech in the global AI landscape.