On January 30, 2025, the Italian Data Protection Authority (Garante per la Protezione dei Dati Personali) officially banned the use of the DeepSeek AI application, developed by a Chinese tech startup, due to concerns regarding the protection of Italian users' personal data.

Reasons for the Ban
The decision came after the authority requested detailed information on how DeepSeek collects, processes, and stores user data, including the sources of information, its intended uses, and whether the data is stored in China. The responses provided by the company were deemed "completely insufficient," leading to the immediate suspension of the application in the country.
Impact on Italian Users
As of January 29, 2025, DeepSeek is no longer available for download on Apple and Google app stores in Italy. Users who had already installed the app may experience service disruptions or limitations. The Italian authority has launched a formal investigation to further assess the situation and ensure the protection of citizens' personal data.
Data Security Concerns
In addition to the lack of transparency in data handling, there are fears that DeepSeek's AI system could be used for foreign influence operations, the spread of disinformation, surveillance, and the development of cyber weapons for the Chinese government. DeepSeek's privacy terms indicate that collected data is stored on servers located in China, raising additional concerns about data security for users.
Conclusion
The ban on DeepSeek in Italy underscores the importance of transparency and compliance with data protection regulations for AI applications, particularly those originating from countries with different privacy standards. Users are encouraged to be mindful of the data management policies of the applications they use and stay informed about regulatory developments regarding personal data protection.
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