In a recent development that has sent shockwaves through the tech world, DeepSeek, the Chinese AI chatbot, is facing serious accusations of sharing users' data with TikTok's parent company, ByteDance. This allegation comes at a time when privacy concerns around Chinese - tech companies are already at the forefront of international discussions.
The Allegation Unveiled
South Korea's data protection regulator, the Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC), has accused DeepSeek of sending citizens' data collected through its AI chatbot to ByteDance. An official from the PIPC told Yonhap News Agency, "We confirmed DeepSeek communicating with ByteDance." However, the exact nature and extent of the data transferred remain unclear, as the regulator stated that it is "yet to confirm what data was transferred and to what extent." This accusation follows closely on the heels of a temporary block on new DeepSeek downloads in South Korea, which was ordered due to privacy concerns just a day before.
Global Scrutiny on DeepSeek
Since its launch in January, DeepSeek has attracted significant global attention, with 12 million users worldwide downloading the app within 48 hours. However, this rapid growth has also led to increased suspicion from various governments. Italy, France, Germany, the United States, Taiwan, Australia, and South Korea are among the regions that have targeted DeepSeek. Most of these are accusing the AI chatbot of violating their respective data protection laws. The main issue with DeepSeek is that it stores all users' data on its Chinese servers. According to the platform's privacy policy, this data may be used "to comply with our legal obligations, or as necessary to perform tasks in the public interest, or to protect the vital interests of our users and other people." This has raised concerns among Western governments about how their citizens' data is being processed.
Responses from the Involved Parties
DeepSeek, while not directly commenting on the data - sharing allegations, has reportedly acknowledged "shortcomings in considering local protection laws" and expressed its commitment to cooperate with the South Korean regulator on the matter. ByteDance, on the other hand, has long dismissed such security risks. According to The Independent, ByteDance believes its link with DeepSeek is simply due to the fact that the AI chatbot uses the cloud services provided by Volcano Engine, which is owned by ByteDance. The company claims that this "does not mean it has access to DeepSeek data." However, a recent report by cybersecurity firm SecurityScorecard has found "integration with ByteDance’s services" within DeepSeek's code, adding more fuel to the fire.
The Broader Implications
This accusation not only affects the reputation of DeepSeek and ByteDance but also has broader implications for the Chinese - tech industry. It further exacerbates the already tense relationship between Chinese - tech companies and Western governments over data - privacy issues. As an official investigation into DeepSeek's data - handling practices has been launched in South Korea, the provider operating DeepSeek will have to provide clear clarifications to the authorities. This case will also be closely watched by other countries, potentially setting a precedent for how they regulate Chinese - tech companies in the future.
As the situation unfolds, the world will be watching to see how DeepSeek and ByteDance respond to these serious allegations and whether they can regain the trust of users and governments alike.
