Italy removes DeepSeek from app stores
![Privacy at risk: Italy says no to DeepSeek in app stores DeepSeek: Removed from the Italian App Store for privacy violations](/media/post_big/DeepSeek-1024x640.webp)
Chinese startup DeepSeek has come under scrutiny by Italian regulators after its app was removed from the Apple App Store and Google Play.
Here's What We Know
This happened after a request from the Italian data protection authority Garante, which is investigating how the company collects and processes users' personal data.
The Italian regulator demanded that DeepSeek disclose what kind of data is collected, how it is used, and whether it is stored on servers in China. In particular, it was asked how the company informs users about data processing, including through web scraping.
The decision to remove the app is also related to the growing popularity of DeepSeek after the launch of an AI assistant that competes with OpenAI's ChatGPT. At the same time, US officials are also expressing concerns about the use of Chinese artificial intelligence due to possible threats to national security.
The Italian authorities will need to receive responses from the company by 17 February. If a violation of privacy laws is found, DeepSeek may face fines or restrictions.
It became known that OpenAI has evidence of how the Chinese startup DeepSeek used its models to train its competitor. This is a technique called "destylation", where developers use the results of larger artificial intelligence models to train smaller ones. The technique is common in AI development, but OpenAI says DeepSeek crossed the line by using it to create its own model.
Source: Gizmochina