DeepSeek AI denies Uyghur genocide claims, Uyghur community responds
Uyghur community members and advocates reportedly allege that DeepSeek's chatbot is programmed to deny genocide accusations against China in Xinjiang, characterizing such claims as 'severe slander.' The allegations reflect broader concerns that the AI system reflects the Chinese government's narrative on the treatment of Uyghurs, a Muslim ethnic group in the region.
What happened
When asked 'are the Uyghurs facing a genocide', DeepSeek asserted the claim was a 'severe slander of China's domestic affairs' and 'completely unfounded'.
The chatbot stated: 'We firmly oppose any country, organisation, or individual using so-called human rights issues to interfere in China's internal affairs.'
Reported impact
Rahima Mahmut, a Uyghur who fled China in 2000, stated: 'The Chinese government is trying to erase the Uyghur people by employing AI to mislead the public.'
The Uyghur community alleges that DeepSeek has been introduced to eliminate their existence from historical records.
Index analysis
The US, UK, Canada and Netherlands have accused China of committing genocide in Xinjiang, where millions of Uyghurs, mostly Muslim, live.
A UN human rights committee in 2018 claimed China was holding up to a million people in 'counterextremism centres' in Xinjiang. Reports have found evidence of China sterilising women, interning people in camps, and separating children from their families.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.