DeepSeek: the new Chinese app that threatens user privacy in the U.S.

In a context where the media and political attention of the United States has mainly focused on TikTok, a new contender has emerged quietly but potentially more intrusively. DeepSeek, an artificial intelligence platform developed in China, has begun to attract the attention of users and authorities, as its operation involves a considerable collection of user data, which is then sent to servers located in the People's Republic of China. This phenomenon raises serious concerns about the privacy and security of personal information of American citizens.

DeepSeek, like other free applications and digital platforms, operates under the model that the user pays with their personal information instead of money. Although the application can be downloaded and used at no cost, users must sacrifice their privacy when interacting with the chatbot and other features it offers, such as web searches and image generation. This business model has raised concerns about how these sensitive data are handled and stored.

According to a report from Wired, DeepSeek's privacy policy makes it clear that the company collects extensive information from its users, ranging from chat messages to technical data from the device used. Data collection is not unusual in the digital realm, but the magnitude and nature of the information that DeepSeek can send to China are alarming. It is estimated that this application could be sending more data to its home country than TikTok, especially after measures taken by ByteDance to mitigate security concerns regarding its own servers.

DeepSeek's privacy policy specifies that the information collected is divided into three general categories: data that the user provides directly, data collected automatically, and data from third parties. The latter category includes information that may be shared if the user opts to log in through services like Google or Apple, thus multiplying the risk of exposure of personal data.

The information collected from users includes basic data such as name, email address, date of birth, in addition to details related to activity on the platform, such as queries made and chat history. At a technical level, DeepSeek records information about the device, including the model and operating system, which can result in a fairly accurate picture of the user and their online behavior.

This type of data collection is not exclusive to DeepSeek; other artificial intelligence platforms, such as ChatGPT, have also faced criticism for similar practices. However, the key difference lies in the location of the data storage servers, which for DeepSeek are located in China, raising the level of concerns in an already tense geopolitical climate.

Cybersecurity experts have warned about the risks of sharing personal information with artificial intelligence chatbots, regardless of their origin. They advise users to avoid revealing sensitive information while interacting with these platforms, which is an important reminder in an era where digital privacy is becoming a scarce commodity.

As the U.S. administration increases its scrutiny of foreign applications like TikTok, the emergence of DeepSeek highlights an urgent need for review and possible regulation of such technologies. The lack of attention to platforms that operate similarly could result in unprecedented exposure of personal data of citizens.

Furthermore, the situation with DeepSeek could be an indication of a broader shift in the technological landscape, where Chinese-origin applications continue to gain popularity in the West, despite objections regarding privacy and security. This phenomenon raises questions about the ability of existing regulations to address the challenges of the new digital era.

In conclusion, while public attention has focused on more well-known platforms like TikTok, DeepSeek enters the market with a much more aggressive approach to data collection. The combination of increasing artificial intelligence and a lack of effective regulation could result in a future where digital privacy is even more vulnerable, calling on policymakers to act proactively before it is too late.