Australian Industry and Science Minister Ed Husic has recently raised significant privacy concerns surrounding China’s AI chatbot DeepSeek, urging users to exercise caution before downloading the controversial application. Speaking on January 28, 2025, Husic emphasized the importance of considering potential data risks and drawing parallels to previous discussions about Chinese tech firms, such as TikTok. This warning has sparked debate as DeepSeek rapidly gains traction, amassing around 3 million downloads since its launch.
Husic stated, "I think people will naturally gravitate toward [DeepSeek]. I think there’ll be parallels to what you’ve seen with discussion around TikTok... I would be very careful about [DeepSeek]; these type of issues need to be weighed up carefully," he expressed during his interview with ABC News. His remarks spotlight the persistent concerns associated with Chinese technology companies and the possibility of user data being harvested for state intelligence purposes.
DeepSeek presents itself as a cost-effective alternative to popular AI applications such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Unlike its subscription-based model priced at $200 per month, DeepSeek’s approach is free and open-source, allowing users to operate it on their hardware without restrictions. This open accessibility is believed to contribute to its swift rise on the app charts, raising alarms among Western tech companies.
The concern surrounding DeepSeek's data collection practices sharply contrasts with the sentiments expressed by former President Donald Trump, who viewed DeepSeek as "a wakeup call for America’s tech companies." He acknowledged the possibility of the app being beneficial if it lowers costs for users, yet cautioned against the potential dangers associated with its development. Meanwhile, Husic emphasized there remain numerous unanswered questions about DeepSeek’s data and privacy management policies.
The application has been criticized for collecting extensive personal information from its users. According to its privacy policy, DeepSeek gathers details such as email addresses, phone numbers, birth dates, user inputs (including text and audio), and technical information like IP addresses and device specifications. ExpressVPN's digital privacy advocate, Lauren Hendry Parsons, cautioned, "There are genuine concerns around the technological potential of DeepSeek, especially around the terms of its privacy policy." She pointed to alarming clauses indicating the app may use data to connect users' actions outside of the service, raising red flags for privacy advocates.
Experts warn users to remain vigilant, especially when engaging with new, widely popular applications. Emily Taylor, chief executive of Oxford Information Labs, stated, "For any openly available AI model, the prompts or questions become available to the makers of the model, as are the answers." This sentiment resonates with Dr. Richard Whittle from the University of Salford, who advised consumers to be cautious, especially amid the hype surrounding new applications like DeepSeek.
Meanwhile, the UK Information Commissioner’s Office has been vocal about the need for regulatory transparency concerning generative AI applications. It called for measures ensuring the public has clear information about how their data may be used and for users to retain their rights over personal information. These regulatory bodies are engaging with stakeholders to promote effective transparency without hesitating to enforce actions when necessary.
Although DeepSeek has surged to prominence, some users in the US and UK have already expressed their concerns about the privacy implications of adopting the chatbot. Husic’s actions mark the first significant cautionary guidance from Western governments, signaling the potential stirrings of regulatory scrutiny over rapidly advancing Chinese technology.
The growing vigilance around DeepSeek encapsulates broader apprehensions concerning technological data privacy and user rights—a narrative increasingly relevant as advanced AI technologies enter the mainstream. Industry observers are closely watching how the balance between innovation and privacy concerns will play out as the app remains under intense scrutiny from governments and regulatory bodies alike.