Experts are warning against the rapid adoption of the Chinese AI platform DeepSeek due to potential misinformation and concerns over Chinese state access to user data.
Government Monitoring
The UK government has declared that using DeepSeek is a personal choice for citizens. However, they are closely monitoring any national security threats. Officials have stated they will act swiftly if any threats arise.
Recently, DeepSeek’s emergence led to a $1 trillion drop in the US tech stock index and became the most downloaded free app in both the UK and the US. Donald Trump described this development as a “wake-up call” for tech firms.
Performance and Concerns
DeepSeek has surprised the tech industry by achieving performance levels similar to platforms like ChatGPT but at a lower cost. Michael Wooldridge from the University of Oxford advised against uploading sensitive information into the chatbot, warning of potential data sharing with the Chinese state.
Dame Wendy Hall, a member of the UN high-level advisory board on AI, mentioned that Chinese tech companies are bound by government regulations, influencing what can be shared.
Potential Risks
Ross Burley, co-founder of the Centre for Information Resilience, expressed concerns over Beijing’s technological leverage, noting the risk of surveillance and propaganda. If unchecked, it could erode trust and hinder democratic values.
UK Technology Secretary Peter Kyle acknowledged the need for individuals to make their own choices regarding this technology, highlighting built-in censorship within the Chinese model.
Innovation Hopes vs. Misinformation
DeepSeek is an open-source platform that could inspire new AI innovations, especially as US tech dominance faces competition. Wooldridge emphasized that this indicates China’s strong presence in tech.
Yet, challenges arise, including DeepSeek’s failure to address sensitive topics like Tiananmen Square. Azeem Azhar’s attempt to get more details showcased how such questions are handled, with the platform acknowledging but not detailing the facts.
Privacy and Data Protection
Applications like DeepSeek and ChatGPT assist in handling personal and work documents, such as meeting minutes. However, users should be aware that uploaded data might be used for AI training or other purposes.
DeepSeek is based in Hangzhou and states in its privacy policy that it stores user data on secure servers in China. The company cites legal obligations and public interest as reasons for data use.
China’s national intelligence law mandates support for intelligence efforts, which questions the true privacy of user data on such platforms.