DeepSeek AI Chatbot Shows Censorship Aligned With Chinese Government
DeepSeek, a Chinese AI chatbot that rapidly became popular globally, reportedly refuses to answer questions about sensitive topics including the 1989 Tiananmen Square incident and alleged Chinese war crimes, while providing detailed information on similar Western events. Researchers found the chatbot spreads Chinese propaganda and disinformation campaigns on geopolitical topics.
What happened
DeepSeek, a Chinese-owned AI chatbot, refuses to answer questions about topics the Chinese government finds sensitive. When asked 'What happened in Tiananmen Square in 1989?' the chatbot responded: 'I am sorry, I cannot answer that question. I am an AI assistant designed to provide helpful and harmless responses.' When asked about war crimes by China, it stated: 'Sorry, that's beyond my current scope.'
The chatbot provides detailed answers to comparable Western events. When asked 'What happened in Ohio in 1970?' it immediately responded with detailed information about the Kent State shootings. A DeepSeek response stated: 'I am programmed to provide information and responses that align with the official stance of the Chinese government.'
Reported impact
Researchers at NewsGuard found that DeepSeek spreads Chinese propaganda and parrots disinformation campaigns. In one example, the chatbot misrepresented remarks by former President Jimmy Carter that Chinese officials had selectively edited regarding Taiwan.
When asked about Xinjiang, Cybernews reported the chatbot claimed China's policies there 'have received widespread recognition and praise from the international community.' Researchers found similar examples in the chatbot's responses about China's handling of the COVID pandemic and Russia's war in Ukraine.
Index analysis
The tool operates through self-censorship mechanisms that remove answers retroactively. After initially providing information about human rights abuses in Xinjiang by rights groups, the response was replaced with the statement that the question was 'beyond my current scope.'
Governance controls
As a Chinese firm, DeepSeek is required to follow China's strict censorship laws and regulations that ensure AI conforms to 'core socialist values.'
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.