Multiple governments block Chinese AI chatbot DeepSeek over data privacy
Governments in South Korea, the Netherlands, France, Italy, and Ireland blocked or restricted access to Chinese AI chatbot DeepSeek and requested information about its data practices, citing concerns that user information could be transferred to the Chinese government without protection or consent.
What happened
South Korea's Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Commerce blocked access to the Chinese AI chatbot DeepSeek on government computers on February 6, 2025, after the country's Personal Information Protection Commission requested clarification on how the company uses user data. The Defense Ministry stated that blocking measures were implemented specifically for computers connected to military work internet.
The Netherlands government prohibited civil servants from using DeepSeek, citing concerns about espionage and data security. The Dutch Data Protection Authority had previously warned citizens about introducing personal and sensitive information into the platform, expressing concern that shared data could be stored and transferred to the Chinese government.
France, Ireland, and Italy's data regulators initiated requests for information from DeepSeek regarding data management practices. Italy's regulator launched an investigation into the chatbot and prohibited it from processing user data from Italian citizens.
Reported impact
Government officials and civil servants in South Korea and the Netherlands were prevented from accessing the application on work systems. Citizens in multiple countries were warned to exercise caution when entering personal or sensitive information on the platform, with the Dutch Data Protection Authority highlighting risks that third-party data could be transferred to China without the knowledge or consent of individuals.
Index analysis
Concerns centered on DeepSeek's data handling practices and the potential transfer of user information to the Chinese government. Multiple governments and data protection authorities questioned whether the company could adequately protect personal information, particularly sensitive government and citizen data.
Governance controls
South Korea's Ministry of Commerce stated that DeepSeek was blocked temporarily because the company had not responded to the Personal Information Protection Commission's request for information. Data protection authorities in multiple countries issued warnings and made formal information requests to the company, and Italy's regulator initiated a formal investigation.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.