DeepSeek AI Faces Global Scrutiny Over Security and Privacy Concerns
14 Sources
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Be Careful With the Data You Give DeepSeek... and Every Other AI
Expertise Cybersecurity, Digital Privacy, IoT, Consumer Tech, Running and Fitness Tech, Smartphones, Wearables DeepSeek rocked the tech world and the financial markets when it hit the app stores a couple of weeks ago, promising to provide the same kinds of high-performing artificial intelligence
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DeepSeek banned on New York state government devices
New York has banned DeepSeek's AI app from government devices, citing security concerns about the Chinese-owned company. It's the TikTok ban discourse all over again. Governor Kathy Hochul announced the statewide DeepSeek ban on Monday, stating that "New York will continue fighting to combat cyber
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Claim: DeepSeek AI can be hacked to generate malware
Experts warn that DeepSeek, a generative AI developed in China, has failed multiple security tests, raising concerns about the risks for users. The Silicon Valley security provider AppSOC discovered significant vulnerabilities, including the ability to jailbreak the AI and generate malware. David
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New York state bans DeepSeek from government devices
The sudden popularity of a China-based app has prompted worries from U.S. government officials about whether it is safe to use.Lam Yik / Bloomberg / Getty Images The state of New York has banned the Chinese artificial intelligence assistant DeepSeek on government devices. Gov. Kathy Hochul issued
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DeepSeek's is under fire - is there anywhere left to hide for the Chinese chatbot?
The Chinese-developed DeepSeek chatbot has sent shockwaves through the AI world since its January 20 release. After only one week, it surpassed its rival ChatGPT by becoming the most downloaded free app in the US and UK. Globally, 12 million people downloaded the DeepSeek app within just 48 hours
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DeepSeek banned from government devices in New York state
DeepSeek has the capability to send user data to the Chinese government. New York government employees are barred from downloading DeepSeek's artificial intelligence application onto state devices due to security concerns, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Monday. The DeepSeek chatbot, known as R1,
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New York bans DeepSeek from government devices over 'serious' data...
New York state banned AI startup DeepSeek from government devices and networks due to "serious concerns" over potential data privacy and censorship risks posed by the China-based app, Gov. Kathy Hochul confirmed Monday. Hochul's office cited fears about "foreign government surveillance and
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Cybersecurity Experts Warn of DeepSeek Vulnerabilities as Governments Ban App
An analysis of DeepSeek's mobile application by the firm NowSecure revealed the app was transmitting data unencrypted. A cybersecurity company is warning businesses and organizations not to use a popular app from the generative AI company DeepSeek, saying that the program contains a number of
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DeepSeek AI app should be banned from US government devices, lawmakers say
DeepSeek's AI app, which recently sent waves through the global AI market by offering a seemingly more powerful model developed at a comparatively lower cost than its competitors, should be banned from US government devices, lawmakers have said. Two congress members are seeking to introduce a
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DeepSeek banned from NY state government devices
New York State is prohibiting the China-based artificial intelligence application DeepSeek from government devices. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) announced on Monday state government employees are banned from downloading the application on ITS-managed devices and networks, citing "serious
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US lawmakers introduce bill to ban DeepSeek from govt devices
US lawmakers on Thursday brought forth a bill to ban Chinese artificial intelligence program DeepSeek from being used on government devices over concerns about user data security. Representative Josh Gottheimer, a New Jersey Democrat, introduced the bill along with Darin LaHood, an Illinois
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Hochul issues statewide ban of Chinese AI DeepSeek on government...
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a statewide ban of the Chinese artificial intelligence app DeepSeek on all government networks and devices Monday -- fearing "foreign government surveillance." The decision comes after Wall Street and Silicon Valley got clobbered over rising fears about DeepSeek - a
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House Bill Proposes Ban on Using DeepSeek on Government-Issued Devices
DeepSeek is the latest Chinese app coming under fire from US lawmakers. Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) and Darin LaHood (R-Ill.) on Thursday introduced a bill that aims to ban the use of DeepSeek on government-issued devices. The duo cited a study conducted by Feroot Security, which found direct
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Illinois Congressman Darin LaHood seeks to ban DeepSeek from federal government devices
Illinois Congressman Darin LaHood is spearheading an effort to ban Chinese artificial intelligence app DeepSeek from being used on any federal government devices. The Republican from Peoria joined U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, a New Jersey Democrat, in introducing the "No DeepSeek on Government
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DeepSeek, a Chinese AI chatbot, has gained popularity but faces bans and investigations worldwide due to security and privacy concerns, drawing comparisons to TikTok's challenges.
DeepSeek's Rapid Rise and Subsequent Concerns
DeepSeek, a Chinese-developed AI chatbot, has taken the tech world by storm since its release on January 20, 2025. Within a week, it surpassed ChatGPT to become the most downloaded free app in the US and UK, with 12 million global downloads in just 48 hours
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. This meteoric rise, however, has been accompanied by growing security and privacy concerns from governments worldwide.Government Actions and Bans
The sudden popularity of DeepSeek has prompted swift action from various governments:
- New York State banned DeepSeek on government devices, citing "serious concerns" about censorship and potential foreign government surveillance
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. - Texas Governor Greg Abbott banned Chinese social media and AI apps, including DeepSeek, on government devices
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. - U.S. Representatives Josh Gottheimer and Darin LaHood introduced a bipartisan bill to ban DeepSeek on all federal government devices
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. - Australia banned the app on government devices
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. - The European Union has issued complaints under GDPR after finding "multiple violations" of European rules in DeepSeek's privacy policy
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Security and Privacy Concerns
Several key issues have been raised regarding DeepSeek:
- Data Storage: DeepSeek stores all user data on Chinese servers, raising concerns about data privacy and potential access by the Chinese government
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. - Vulnerability to Hacking: Security tests revealed that DeepSeek could be "jailbroken" to generate malware, earning it a risk score of 8.3 out of 10 from security provider AppSOC
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. - Data Collection: The EU's audit found that DeepSeek logs extensive user details, including keystroke patterns
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. - Potential for Surveillance: U.S. officials worry that the Chinese government might use DeepSeek to surveil users or spread disinformation
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Comparisons to TikTok
The situation draws parallels to the controversies surrounding TikTok:
- Both DeepSeek and TikTok have ties to China and are subject to Chinese laws requiring data sharing with the government if requested
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. - Concerns about data security and potential surveillance have led to similar government actions against both platforms
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. - However, experts note that the security threats posed by DeepSeek differ from those of TikTok, as AI models like DeepSeek may be encountered without users' knowledge
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Expert Opinions and Recommendations
Cybersecurity experts and industry leaders have weighed in on the DeepSeek controversy:
- Dimitri Sirota, CEO of BigID, acknowledges the difficulty in deterring average users from downloading popular apps like DeepSeek
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. - Anjana Susarla, an expert in responsible AI, advises against using DeepSeek in chatbots or customer-facing applications due to security concerns
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. - Lauren Hendry Parsons from ExpressVPN expects more countries to take action against DeepSeek, potentially leading to an international framework for AI regulation
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. - Jurgita Miseviciute from Proton emphasizes the need for consistent scrutiny of all AI firms, not just Chinese companies, and calls for user education on data handling practices
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Future Implications
The DeepSeek controversy may have far-reaching consequences for the AI industry:
- It could lead to the development of new international frameworks for AI regulation
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. - The situation highlights the need for increased user awareness about data privacy in AI tools
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. - The controversy may impact the ongoing AI race between the U.S. and China, potentially influencing future technological developments and investments in the field
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As the situation continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how DeepSeek will address these concerns and what long-term effects this controversy will have on the global AI landscape.
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