Italy’s data protection authority, Garante, announced on Thursday that it had blocked access to the Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) model DeepSeek due to concerns over its handling of personal data. The decision came after the authority requested detailed information on the AI’s data usage, specifically seeking clarity on what personal data is collected, its sources, intended purposes, legal grounds, and whether it is stored in China.
On Wednesday, DeepSeek was no longer available for download on the Apple and Google app stores in Italy, following the Garante’s inquiry. The companies behind DeepSeek, which provides an AI-powered chatbot service, failed to provide adequate responses to the Garante’s questions regarding the use of personal data.
The Garante emphasised that the information provided by the Chinese firms behind DeepSeek was “totally insufficient,” prompting the immediate decision to block the service. Furthermore, the authority launched an investigation into the AI’s data practices to ensure compliance with privacy regulations.
DeepSeek, which claims to offer an AI assistant that consumes less data at a lower cost compared to competing services, had recently surpassed U.S.-based ChatGPT in downloads on Apple’s app store. This surge in popularity, especially within the European market, had raised concerns among investors in tech stocks. DeepSeek has yet to comment on the Garante’s actions.