Global warnings intensify: A popular AI tool might be transmitting your data to another country—even without your knowledge.
The Czech Republic has restricted the use of the DeepSeek AI tool due to concerns about its links to the Chinese government and potential security risks. This tool, which utilizes a large language model (LLM) and a chatbot of the same name, has come under criticism over fears that it may share user data with Chinese authorities.
DeepSeek was established in 2023 and quickly gained traction in global app stores with the release of its iOS and Android applications, even surpassing ChatGPT in popularity. The company claimed that its language model was more efficient and resource-friendly compared to Western competitors. However, this rapid success has prompted regulatory bodies—including in the U.S. and now the Czech Republic—to issue warnings about its potential threats.
In a report, the Czech National Cyber and Information Security Agency (NÚKIB) stated that both domestic and international intelligence reviews indicate that using DeepSeek products could pose a cybersecurity threat. These concerns are tied to Chinese laws such as the National Security Law, the National Intelligence Law, and the Anti-Espionage Law—all of which obligate Chinese companies to cooperate with the government’s intelligence activities, even outside China’s borders.
The NÚKIB report also highlighted DeepSeek’s deep ties with its parent company, High-Flyer, and their connection to the Chinese government. It noted that China has repeatedly engaged in espionage activities targeting the Czech Republic in the past. The Czech Republic is not alone in raising alarms; cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike also confirmed in its 2024 report that China-linked threats continue to expand globally.
As a result, the Czech Republic has banned the use of DeepSeek products, except in special cases such as security research or when using open-source versions of the tool—provided those versions are not connected to DeepSeek’s servers. Other countries including the United States (notably New York, Texas, Virginia, as well as institutions like the Navy and NASA), Australia, Canada, Denmark, India, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, South Korea, and Taiwan have implemented similar restrictions. According to NÚKIB, more countries are likely to join this list in the coming months.
