Italy has become the first country to block DeepSeek, a Chinese-developed AI app, after its data protection authority raised alarms over the app’s handling of personal data. The Italian watchdog, Garante, made the decision on Thursday, citing “totally insufficient” information from DeepSeek about its data usage practices.
DeepSeek, developed by the Hangzhou-based startup DeepSeek Inc., had quickly gained popularity after overtaking OpenAI’s ChatGPT as the most downloaded AI assistant on the Apple App Store. The app’s rapid success triggered concerns when a consumer rights group, Euroconsumers, filed a complaint regarding its data handling practices.
The Italian regulator requested detailed information about the app’s data collection, storage, and usage, particularly whether personal data is stored in China and the legal grounds for such practices. However, DeepSeek’s initial response was deemed inadequate. The company reportedly claimed that it did not operate in Italy, arguing that European legislation did not apply to them, a position that the Garante rejected.
As a result, the regulator issued an immediate ban on the app and launched an investigation, warning that millions of Italians’ data could be at risk. “The data of millions of Italians is at risk,” Garante stated, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
Italy is not alone in its scrutiny of DeepSeek. On Wednesday, Ireland’s Data Protection Commission requested information from the company regarding its handling of data belonging to Irish citizens. South Korea’s privacy watchdog is also planning to take similar action.
The app’s privacy concerns extend beyond Europe. The US Navy has already advised its personnel to avoid using DeepSeek, citing security and ethical risks.
