Italy Blocks DeepSeek Chatbot Due to Privacy Concerns

MILAN (Reuters) – Italy’s data protection authority, the Garante, ordered DeepSeek to block its chatbot in the country after the Chinese startup failed to address privacy policy concerns.

The watchdog had questioned DeepSeek about its use of personal data, particularly regarding the types of personal data collected, sources, purposes, legal bases, and storage locations.

The Garante’s order aims to protect Italian users’ data and came after DeepSeek’s information was deemed insufficient by the regulator.

DeepSeek did not comment immediately.

The Chinese startup claimed its newly launched AI models are comparable to, or better than, industry-leading models in the U.S. and threaten to disrupt the tech landscape. Its AI assistant has reportedly surpassed ChatGPT to become the top-rated free application on Apple’s App Store in the U.S.

The Garante noted that the order had “immediate effect” and initiated an investigation. Regulatory bodies in Ireland and France are also scrutinizing DeepSeek’s privacy policies.

In response to the Garante’s inquiries, DeepSeek reportedly removed its AI assistant from Italian app stores. However, it claimed it should not be subjected to local regulations or the authority of the Garante.

Agostino Ghiglia, a member of the Italian data authority, stated, “Not only did DeepSeek’s response not give us any reassurance, it worsened their position, and that’s why we decided to order the block.”

He warned that without cooperation, DeepSeek would remain blocked in Italy. Despite this, some Italian users who had previously downloaded the app mentioned that the chatbot was still operational. The web version remains active.

Ghiglia emphasized that citizens should have control over their data, stating, “Servers in China do not offer the guarantees Europe does.” Italy’s Garante is recognized as one of the most assertive data protection authorities in Europe and previously banned Microsoft-backed ChatGPT over potential EU privacy rule breaches.