DeepSeek faces possible further regulatory actions, EU privacy watchdog warns

The latest developments with DeepSeek underscore the European Union's commitment to holding tech companies accountable for the handling of personal data, ensuring strict GDPR compliance across the region

Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek is facing growing scrutiny from European privacy regulators amid concerns about its data collection practices and compliance with EU regulations. The EU watchdog investigation has sparked concerns over the company’s adherence to European Union privacy rules and its handling of personal data protection, potentially leading to further regulatory actions.

The Italian government recently blocked DeepSeek’s chatbot due to its lack of transparency about how it uses personal data, raising questions about its compliance with GDPR compliance. Meanwhile, regulators in France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, and other countries have also questioned the startup about its data-handling policies, which has escalated concerns regarding personal data protection and GDPR compliance.

Also Read: DeepSeek To FaceOff the AI's Rapid Growth Trajectory

EDPB enhances privacy oversight on DeepSeek

Following a monthly meeting on February 11, a spokesperson for the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) confirmed that several national Data Protection Authorities (DPAs) have already initiated investigations into DeepSeek, and warned that additional actions might follow.

The increasing concerns have prompted the EDPB to expand a task force originally created in 2023 to focus solely on Microsoft-backed OpenAI's ChatGPT. This task force will now broaden its scope to include DeepSeek.

Furthermore, the EDPB emphasized the need for closer coordination among DPAs in handling urgent privacy-related issues. To address this, the board will set up a quick-response team to ensure faster and more unified actions against companies suspected of violating EU regulations on personal data protection.

Europe has been at the forefront of privacy rights, with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) serving as the world’s most stringent privacy law since its enforcement in 2018. The latest developments with DeepSeek underscore the European Union's commitment to holding tech companies accountable for the handling of personal data, ensuring strict GDPR compliance across the region.