A growing number of companies and government organizations are taking steps to block access to the DeepSeek artificial intelligence platform, raising concerns about data security and the potential transfer of data to the Chinese government.
The move to impose restrictions comes after reports from major cybersecurity firms that several companies have requested that the platform be blocked from their systems.
Beijing’s Shadow Over DeepSeek
Cybersecurity firms Armis and Netskope have noted that a significant percentage of their customers have expressed concerns about DeepSeek’s handling of data. Armis reports that 70 percent of its customers have already requested restrictions. While Netskope reports similar demand from 52 percent of its network.
The primary concern is that the information fed into the system could end up under the control of the Chinese government, with no clarity on its final destination.
The precautions are not limited to the private sector. In the United States, the Pentagon and the Navy have already blocked the use of the platform. While the well-known law firm Fox Rothschild of San Francisco has also taken similar measures. In Europe, too, the issue is under close observation.
In Italy, the Privacy Guarantor has ordered the immediate blocking of DeepSeek. While the Irish data protection authority has asked the Chinese company for clarifications on its information management policies.
In the UK, although no drastic measures have yet been taken, the Information Commissioner’s Office has issued a warning. Stressing the obligation of transparency for AI platforms operating in the country.
The situation has been further complicated by the discovery of a publicly exposed DeepSeek database, containing chat histories and technical data of the platform, disclosed by cybersecurity startup Wiz. At the same time, vulnerabilities in the system have emerged that could allow the bypassing of restrictions on certain topics.
DeepSeek in the security storm
This scenario of growing caution could translate into new opportunities for companies specialized in cybersecurity. According to bloomberg Intelligence, companies such as CrowdStrike, Palo Alto Networks and SentinelOne could benefit from the increased demand for data protection solutions.
Experts point out that Chinese laws require companies to provide access to data to the government. An element that continues to fuel the debate over the security of the information managed by DeepSeek .https://youtu.be/fhobnotWtzs?si=bvQOvahuWv-YIBKM