Italy blocks access to the Chinese AI application DeepSeek to protect users’ data
Associated Press5 days
The Facts
Italy's data protection authority, Garante, has blocked access to the Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) application DeepSeek with immediate effect — citing insufficient transparency regarding the handling of personal data of Italian users.
Additionally, Garante launched an investigation into DeepSeek's data practices, specifically seeking information about what personal data is collected, its sources, intended purposes, legal basis, and whether it's stored in China.
The regulatory action comes after DeepSeek's parent companies — Hangzhou DeepSeek Artificial Intelligence and Beijing DeepSeek Artificial Intelligence — claimed they don't operate in Italy and that European legislation doesn't apply to them.
The Spin
Anti-China narrative
European privacy regulations must be strictly enforced to protect citizens' personal data from unauthorized collection and processing, especially when dealing with companies that refuse to acknowledge jurisdiction and provide transparency about their data handling practices. This PRC-created AI technology must be closely scrutinized.
Pro-China narrative
DeepSeek is being unfairly punished for disrupting the established market dynamics. The regulatory action is protectionist, targeting a successful Chinese AI platform that has managed to compete effectively with American tech giants by offering similar services at lower costs.
