The inquiry specifically seeks to determine whether DeepSeek obtains personal data through web scraping and how it informs users about its data processing practices.
Given its Chinese origins, US authorities are currently examining the national security implications of DeepSeek's AI chatbot.
Euroconsumers have identified multiple violations of European data protection laws by DeepSeek, including improper data transfers to China and insufficient transparency regarding user data usage.
Italy's Data Protection Authority, known as Garante, has initiated an inquiry into the Chinese AI company DeepSeek, focusing on its data practices and potential risks to user data.
This regulatory action marks one of the first significant investigations into DeepSeek, which has been given a 20-day deadline to respond to the inquiry.
The chatbot's rise to the top of the Apple App Store has sparked considerable attention and speculation regarding its potential impact on the AI industry.
Notably, there is currently no known European branch or legal representative for DeepSeek, which is a violation of GDPR regulations.
Following discussions at a recent conference, German data protection authorities are planning to further investigate DeepSeek's practices.
DeepSeek has quickly gained traction as a low-cost alternative to US competitors, with its free AI assistant recently surpassing OpenAI's ChatGPT on the Apple App Store in the US.
Concerns have been voiced in both the US and Australia about the privacy and security risks associated with utilizing DeepSeek's AI model.
In Italy, the DeepSeek app has been removed from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store, raising alarms about its compliance with European data protection laws.
The situation surrounding DeepSeek remains complex, with ongoing debates about its legitimacy and the broader implications for the tech industry.
