Italy blocks Chinese AI app DeepSeek, opens investigation into data use

Italy’s Data Protection Agency on Thursday launched an investigation into the AI chatbot of Chinese start-up DeepSeek and said it had blocked it from processing Italian users’ data.

The GPDP said it had decided to act after receiving “completely insufficient” answers to its questions about the firm’s use of personal data.

In a statement, it said it had ordered “urgently and with immediate effect the restriction of the processing of data of Italian users by Hangzhou DeepSeek Artificial Intelligence and Beijing DeepSeek Artificial Intelligence, the Chinese companies that provide the DeepSeek chatbot service”.

At the same time, the authority had opened an investigation, it said.

“The restriction measure, designed to protect the data of Italian users, follows the communication from the companies received today, the contents of which were deemed completely insufficient,” it said.

On Tuesday, the agency announced it had raised questions with DeepSeek about how personal data was collected, from which sources and to what end, and where it was stored.

  

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