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On Thu, 30 Jan, 12:02 AM UTC
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Italy's privacy watchdog taking on big tech
ROME (Reuters) - Italy's data protection authority has called on the Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) model DeepSeek to provide answers on its use of personal data. The agency, also known as the Garante, frequently takes initiatives - such as requesting information or imposing fines or bans - on matters affecting high-tech multinationals operating in the country. The agency was established in 1997 following the implementation of the country's data protection law which sought to align with European Union rules. It has become increasingly active in safeguarding personal data and privacy rights in Italy and intervenes more frequently than similar bodies in many other European Union countries. GOVERNANCE The agency, based in Rome's central Piazza Venezia, is an independent authority comprised of a collegiate body of four members, including a president. The members are elected by parliament and serve a seven-year term intended to ensure independence from the government. The Garante's current president is Pasquale Stanzione, a 79-year-old former law professor at Salerno University. FUNCTION The agency investigates complaints, conducts audits and imposes sanctions on entities that it rules have violated data protection regulations. It also provides guidance and advice to public and private sector organizations on data protection practices. KEY RULINGS Over the past five years, the Garante has issued rulings that have shaped the landscape of data protection in Italy. In 2020, it fined Telecom Italia (TIM) 27.8 million euros ($29 million) for unlawful data processing practices related to telemarketing activities. The ruling underscored the importance of obtaining clear and explicit consent from individuals before processing their personal data for marketing purposes. In 2021 it ordered Chinese social media platform TikTok to enhance its data protection measures to better safeguard minors, following concerns about the platform's handling of personal data of users under the age of 13. In 2023 OpenAI took its ChatGPT app offline in Italy after the Garante temporarily banned the chatbot and launched a probe over the artificial intelligence application's suspected breach of privacy rules. Italy was the first Western country to temporarily ban the app. Last year it fined Italy's second-largest bank, UniCredit, 2.8 million euros for a data breach in a case affecting thousands of customers and former customers. Last month the agency fined OpenAI 15 million euros after closing another investigation into its use of personal data.
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Italy's Regulator Blocks Chinese AI App DeepSeek on Data Protection
The watchdog had questioned DeepSeek this week about its use of personal Italy's data protection authority, the Garante, said on Thursday it had ordered DeepSeek to block its chatbot in the country after the Chinese artificial intelligence startup failed to address the regulator's concerns over its privacy policy. The watchdog had questioned DeepSeek this week about its use of personal data, particularly seeking informationon what personal data is collected, from which sources, for what purposes, on what legal basis and whether it is stored in China. The Garante's order -- aimed at protecting Italian users' data -- came after the Chinese companies that supply the DeepSeek chatbot service provided information that "was considered to totally insufficient," the watchdog said in a statement. DeepSeek had no immediate comment. The Chinese startup said its newly-launched AI models are on a par or better than industry-leading models in the United States at a fraction of the cost, threatening to upset the technology world order. Its AI assistant has overtaken rival ChatGPT to become the top-rated free application available on Apple's App Store in the United States. The Garante added that its order had "immediate effect" and that it had also opened an investigation. European Scrutiny Data regulators in Ireland and France are also questioning DeepSeek over its chatbot's privacy policy. In its response to the Garante's queries, DeepSeek said it had removed its AI assistant from Italian app stores after its privacy policy was questioned, Agostino Ghiglia, one of the four members of the Italian data authority's board, told Reuters. Ghiglia said that DeepSeek added it should not be subject to local regulation or the jurisdiction of the Garante, and had no obligation to provide the regulator with any information. "Not only did DeepSeek's response not give us any reassurance, it worsened their position, and that's the reason we decide to order the block," Ghiglia said. "If there is no cooperation, DeepSeek will continue to be blocked in Italy", he added. As of Friday, some Italian users who had previously downloaded the app on their mobile devices said the chatbot was still providing answers. The web version of the service is still operating. "Citizens have the right to give their consent based on what you do, or do not do, with their data. And servers in China do not offer the guarantees Europe does," Ghiglia said. Italy's Garante is among the most proactive of the 31 data protection authorities in Europe on the use of AI. Two years ago it briefly banned the use of Microsoft-backed ChatGPT over suspected breaches of EU privacy rules. © Thomson Reuters 2025
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Factbox-Italy's Privacy Watchdog Taking on Big Tech
ROME (Reuters) - Italy's data protection authority has called on the Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) model DeepSeek to provide answers on its use of personal data. The agency, also known as the Garante, frequently takes initiatives - such as requesting information or imposing fines or bans - on matters affecting high-tech multinationals operating in the country. The agency was established in 1997 following the implementation of the country's data protection law which sought to align with European Union rules. It has become increasingly active in safeguarding personal data and privacy rights in Italy and intervenes more frequently than similar bodies in many other European Union countries. GOVERNANCE The agency, based in Rome's central Piazza Venezia, is an independent authority comprised of a collegiate body of four members, including a president. The members are elected by parliament and serve a seven-year term intended to ensure independence from the government. The Garante's current president is Pasquale Stanzione, a 79-year-old former law professor at Salerno University. FUNCTION The agency investigates complaints, conducts audits and imposes sanctions on entities that it rules have violated data protection regulations. It also provides guidance and advice to public and private sector organizations on data protection practices. KEY RULINGS Over the past five years, the Garante has issued rulings that have shaped the landscape of data protection in Italy. In 2020, it fined Telecom Italia (TIM) 27.8 million euros ($29 million) for unlawful data processing practices related to telemarketing activities. The ruling underscored the importance of obtaining clear and explicit consent from individuals before processing their personal data for marketing purposes. In 2021 it ordered Chinese social media platform TikTok to enhance its data protection measures to better safeguard minors, following concerns about the platform's handling of personal data of users under the age of 13. In 2023 OpenAI took its ChatGPT app offline in Italy after the Garante temporarily banned the chatbot and launched a probe over the artificial intelligence application's suspected breach of privacy rules. Italy was the first Western country to temporarily ban the app. Last year it fined Italy's second-largest bank, UniCredit, 2.8 million euros for a data breach in a case affecting thousands of customers and former customers. Last month the agency fined OpenAI 15 million euros after closing another investigation into its use of personal data.
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Italy's data protection watchdog, the Garante, has ordered the blocking of DeepSeek, a Chinese AI chatbot, due to insufficient information on its data handling practices. This action highlights the growing scrutiny of AI technologies in Europe.
Italy's data protection authority, the Garante, has taken decisive action against DeepSeek, a Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) startup, by ordering the blocking of its chatbot in the country. This move comes after DeepSeek failed to adequately address the regulator's concerns over its privacy policy and use of personal data 12.
The Garante had initially questioned DeepSeek about its data handling practices, specifically seeking information on:
DeepSeek's response was deemed "totally insufficient" by the watchdog, prompting the immediate blocking order. Agostino Ghiglia, a member of the Garante's board, revealed that DeepSeek had removed its AI assistant from Italian app stores after its privacy policy was questioned. However, the company maintained that it should not be subject to local regulation or the Garante's jurisdiction 2.
This incident highlights the growing scrutiny of AI technologies in Europe, particularly those developed by non-EU companies. The Garante's action against DeepSeek is part of a broader trend of European data protection authorities taking a proactive stance on AI regulation 3.
The Garante, established in 1997, has become increasingly active in safeguarding personal data and privacy rights in Italy. Some key aspects of the authority include:
The action against DeepSeek is not isolated, as data regulators in Ireland and France are also questioning the company about its chatbot's privacy policy. This coordinated approach underscores the importance European authorities place on data protection and privacy in the age of AI 2.
Despite the regulatory challenges, DeepSeek has made significant strides in the AI field:
As of now, some Italian users who previously downloaded the DeepSeek app can still access the chatbot, and the web version remains operational. The Garante has emphasized that continued blocking will depend on DeepSeek's cooperation with the regulator 2.
This case serves as a reminder of the complex interplay between technological innovation, data protection, and international regulations in the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence.
Reference
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The European Data Protection Board discusses DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup, amid growing concerns over data privacy and regulatory compliance in the EU.
4 Sources
4 Sources
Italy's data protection authority fines OpenAI €15 million for GDPR violations related to ChatGPT's data collection and processing practices, highlighting growing tensions between AI advancement and regulatory compliance.
18 Sources
18 Sources
France's data protection authority, CNIL, announces plans to question Chinese AI startup DeepSeek about its AI system's operations and potential privacy risks, following the company's claim of cost-effective AI model training.
2 Sources
2 Sources
Italy's data protection authority cautions GEDI, a major Italian publisher, about potential EU regulation violations if it shares personal data archives with OpenAI as part of their strategic partnership.
2 Sources
2 Sources
DeepSeek, a Chinese AI chatbot, has sparked international concern due to its data collection practices and potential security risks, leading to bans and investigations across multiple countries.
4 Sources
4 Sources
