Table of contents
- Why did Italy ban DeepSeek?
- European regulators raise concerns
- DeepSeek: a rising AI competitor
- The future of AI regulation in Europe
Why did Italy ban DeepSeek?
The Italian Data Protection Authority (Garante) ordered the suspension after DeepSeek failed to provide sufficient answers regarding how it collects, stores, and processes personal data. Key concerns included:
- Transparency in data collection;
- Intended use of user data;
- Possible data storage in China.
The startup’s responses were deemed inadequate, leading to the immediate ban of the chatbot in Italy.
European regulators raise concerns
Italy is not the only country scrutinizing DeepSeek. Regulators in France and Ireland are also investigating the company’s privacy policies.
In response to Italy’s request, DeepSeek removed its app from Italian digital stores, yet claimed it is not subject to local regulations or the Garante’s jurisdiction. This stance further escalated regulatory concerns, resulting in the chatbot’s suspension.
DeepSeek: a rising AI competitor
DeepSeek is positioning itself as a major competitor to OpenAI’s ChatGPT. The company claims its AI models are on par or superior to US competitors while offering a lower cost.
Recently, its app became the most downloaded on the Apple App Store in the US, signaling rapid global success.
The future of AI regulation in Europe
Italy has been one of the most proactive European countries in regulating AI technologies. In 2023, the Garante temporarily banned ChatGPT, supported by Microsoft, over similar data privacy concerns.
According to Agostino Ghiglia, a Garante board member, European data regulations require companies to provide transparent policies regarding user consent and data management. He also stressed that Chinese data servers do not offer the same security guarantees as European ones.
As AI technologies evolve, regulatory oversight is expected to intensify, with European authorities pushing for greater transparency and compliance from tech companies.
