Concerns Over DeepSeek Data Leak... "Cannot Know Where the Information Is Going"

Global companies are blocking access to the AI chatbot developed by Chinese AI startup DeepSeek over concerns about information leaks, Bloomberg reported on the 30th (local time).

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According to Bloomberg, Nadir Izrael, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of cybersecurity firm Armis, said that hundreds of companies associated with governments are restricting their employees' access to DeepSeek due to concerns about potential data leaks to the Chinese government and personal information security.

CTO Izrael stated, "The biggest concern is the possibility of data being leaked to the Chinese government. (With AI models) it is impossible to know where the information is going," adding that about 70% of their clients have requested to block access to DeepSeek.

Network security company Netskope, which companies use to block employee access to specific websites, also said that 52% of its clients have completely blocked access to DeepSeek.

While companies are concerned about information leaks, cybersecurity experts who began investigating DeepSeek-related security reportedly discovered a publicly accessible DeepSeek database. Cybersecurity startup Wiz explained that the database includes some DeepSeek chat records, backend details, and log data.

DeepSeek’s privacy policy states that data is collected and stored on servers within China, and disputes related to this are subject to Chinese government laws. According to the policy, DeepSeek collects content such as keyboard patterns, text, audio, files, feedback, and chat records entered by users for AI model training and may share information with law enforcement and public agencies at its discretion, Bloomberg reported.

The U.S. Congress has also restricted DeepSeek functionality on devices owned by Congress and instructed employees not to install DeepSeek on shared phones and computers. In a notice, Congress warned, "Threat actors are already exploiting DeepSeek as a means to distribute malicious software and infect devices."

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