Italy bans Chinese AI app DeepSeek over data privacy concerns

The ban on DeepSeek is part of a broader trend of increasing scrutiny on AI applications in Europe, particularly those that collect sensitive personal data

Italy’s Data Protection Authority, Garante, has enforced an immediate ban on the Chinese AI application DeepSeek, raising significant concerns about user data protection. The app is no longer available for download on the Italian Play Store and App Store following the decision.

The ban follows an investigation into DeepSeek’s data handling practices, after Garante requested detailed information about the types of personal data the app collects, the sources of that data, its intended uses, and whether it is being stored in China. DeepSeek’s failure to provide complete answers, along with the lack of transparency from its Chinese suppliers, led to the regulator’s action and an ongoing inquiry.

DeepSeek, which recently launched a free, data-efficient AI assistant, gained significant traction, even surpassing US rival ChatGPT in download numbers on Apple’s app store. The app’s rise raised alarm within the tech industry, with NVIDIA losing nearly $600 billion in market value due to investor concerns about the growing dominance of Chinese tech.

Europe's tightening grip on AI and data privacy concerns

The ban on DeepSeek is part of a broader trend of increasing scrutiny on AI applications in Europe, particularly those that collect sensitive personal data. The European Union’s upcoming Artificial Intelligence Act aims to address these concerns by mandating that AI systems comply with strict privacy and security regulations. Failure to meet these requirements could result in significant fines, emphasizing the EU’s commitment to overseeing the ethical and secure use of AI.

Garante has given DeepSeek 20 days to submit comprehensive information about its data practices, as regulators continue to push for stronger enforcement of data privacy laws across Europe. This action highlights the growing urgency to safeguard user information in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.