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3mo ago

DeepSeek AI Raises Data Privacy and Security Concerns Over Ties to China

The Chinese AI startup's rapid rise with its cost-efficient R1 model has sparked national security debates over potential data sharing with the Chinese government.

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Deepseek and ChatGPT app icons are seen in this illustration taken Jan. 27, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
Sam Altman, chief executive officer of OpenAI, speaks at Kakao Media Day in Seoul, South Korea, on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025. Kakao Corp. and OpenAI have agreed to integrate ChatGPT and other AI services more deeply into Korea's largest social media platform. Photo by SeongJoon Cho/Bloomberg via Getty Images
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Overview

  • DeepSeek's R1 AI model has become the most downloaded app, surpassing ChatGPT, while being developed at a fraction of the cost of competitors.
  • Security experts uncovered code in DeepSeek's platform that could transfer user data to China Mobile, a state-owned telecom company tied to the Chinese government.
  • U.S. lawmakers and cybersecurity experts warn that DeepSeek's data collection practices could expose sensitive user information, including business and personal data, to the Chinese government.
  • The controversy has led to calls for banning DeepSeek on government devices and restricting its use in critical infrastructure due to national security concerns.
  • DeepSeek's rise also highlights China's growing AI talent pool and its ability to rival U.S. AI development despite export controls on advanced chips.