(CLO) Data watchdogs in South Korea and Ireland have announced that they will ask Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) startup DeepSeek to clarify how it handles users' personal information.
The move comes as more countries around the world are starting to take notice of this AI service.
Deepseek reported overload due to sudden increase in users and attacks. Screenshot.
DeepSeek confidently claims that its R1 chatbot is capable of competing with the most advanced American AI models, but with an investment level only a fraction of that of American tech companies.
The news sent tech markets into a tailspin, with Nvidia shares plunging 17% on Monday, raising questions about the hundreds of billions of dollars that US companies have invested in AI in recent years.
An official at the Korea Personal Information Protection Commission said the agency will send an official request on Friday (Jan. 31) to collect information on how DeepSeek handles personal data, but did not provide further details.
In Europe, the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) has also asked DeepSeek to explain how it handles user data in Ireland. This is Europe's leading technology watchdog, as many large corporations are headquartered in Ireland to take advantage of Dublin's preferential tax policies.
Italy has previously opened an investigation and blocked DeepSeek R1 from collecting data from users in the country. The Italian Data Protection Agency questioned the source of the data DeepSeek used to train its AI, as well as how the company informed users about the processing of personal data.
In France, data watchdog CNIL also said it would ask DeepSeek to provide details about the chatbot's operations and the risks related to data protection.
Meanwhile in Australia, Science Minister Ed Husic has expressed concerns about DeepSeek's privacy and advised users to think carefully before downloading the app. "There are a lot of questions about quality, consumer preferences and data management that we need to address in the coming period," Mr Husic told ABC.
The countries' actions are reminiscent of Italy's temporary ban of ChatGPT in March 2023 over privacy concerns, becoming the first Western country to impose a ban on OpenAI's AI.
DeepSeek’s rise sent Seoul’s stock market reeling when it reopened after a long holiday. Samsung lost more than 2%, while SK Hynix fell nearly 12% at one point.
However, some industry leaders still welcome the appearance of DeepSeek, saying it brings necessary competition, helping to promote innovation in the AI industry. Analysts also assess that this could be a boost to help the global AI market become more vibrant.
Cao Phong (according to ABC, CNA, CNN)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/nhieu-nuoc-dieu-tra-deepseek-ve-cach-xu-ly-du-lieu-nguoi-dung-post332573.html
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