The recently launched DeepSeek, an artificial intelligence application developed by a Chinese start-up, is encountering significant pushback globally. Several countries have either banned or criticized the app due to growing concerns over data privacy and cybersecurity vulnerabilities, highlighting broader geopolitical and economic tensions surrounding artificial intelligence technologies.
Italy was the first to take action, with its data protection authority suspending DeepSeek’s operations shortly after its release, citing potential risks to users’ personal data. Similar apprehensions have prompted Taiwan, Australia, and certain South Korean institutions to restrict the use of DeepSeek among their officials. In South Korea, the app was removed from app stores earlier this week.
These measures are primarily driven by fears that the application could expose sensitive user data to the Chinese government, owing to reported cybersecurity flaws. The American firm Wiz has identified potential data leaks that could facilitate cyberattacks or the illicit sale of information on the dark web. DeepSeek’s terms of service further underscore these concerns by allowing for the transmission of user data, which is stored on Chinese servers and thus subject to Chinese regulations. The app logs all interactions, even keystrokes not submitted as queries, raising alarms over privacy.
In contrast, OpenAI’s ChatGPT, a leading American conversational agent, also shares user data with third parties, yet has not faced similar levels of scrutiny. This disparity has led some to suggest that the backlash against DeepSeek may also be a strategic move by Western countries to protect their interests in the highly competitive AI sector. “The geopolitical aspect cannot be ignored,” remarked Rémi Bourgeot, an economist and researcher at the Institute for International and Strategic Affairs (Iris).
The geopolitical and economic stakes are high, with Western nations potentially engaging in “China-bashing” to undermine competitors like DeepSeek. Similar scrutiny has been directed at other Chinese technologies, such as TikTok, which has faced restrictions in the US and Europe. “Western countries have a strategic interest in challenging Chinese tech dominance,” explained Camille Boulengueur, a digital geopolitics expert at Iris.
Despite these geopolitical maneuvers, Europe must also remain vigilant regarding American influence. As Bourgeot notes, European developments often align with American distribution networks, which can lead to over-reliance. For instance, a European AI company, Mistral AI, entered into a partnership with Microsoft in early 2024 to leverage its infrastructure.
China, for its part, appears undeterred by these international tensions. A spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized the importance of Chinese companies complying with local laws abroad and cautioned against politicizing technological and commercial issues.
The DeepSeek controversy underscores the complex interplay between technology, privacy, and international relations, as countries navigate the challenges of emerging AI technologies in a globalized world.
