
DeepSeek is a Chinese AI chatbot that is becoming popular worldwide. It is growing at a time when another Chinese app TikTok is facing bans in many countries. India banned TikTok in 2020. The U.S. is also planning to ban it. The main reason is data privacy concerns.
TikTok has denied sharing user data with the Chinese government. However, China’s Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL) requires apps to provide data if requested. The government can access this data for national security reasons. TikTok cannot refuse to follow these laws. DeepSeek appears even worse in data sharing. It does not hide that it shares user conversations.
DeepSeek’s user base in India is unclear. In the U.S., its growth is rapid. It became the most downloaded app on the App Store within a week of launch. People are attracted to its advanced AI features. It can complete complex tasks quickly. However, it avoids topics like Tiananmen Square and the Indo-Sino war. The chatbot is free, but users pay with their data.
DeepSeek’s FAQ page reveals that it collects user profile details, chat history and payment information. It also stores this data on servers in China. The app states that the collected information may be stored outside the user’s country.
How DeepSeek Tracks Users ?
DeepSeek collects user data automatically. This includes IP addresses, device IDs, and cookies. By tracking this data, the app monitors online activity. It recognizes devices across platforms and personalizes ads.
The app also collects device details like model, operating system, and typing style. It tracks how users interact with its features. Cookies and web beacons help monitor browsing behavior.
DeepSeek gathers financial details. This allows it to show targeted ads. If the app gets data from third parties, it collects even more user information.
Can Developers Avoid Data Sharing?
DeepSeek’s code is open-source. Developers can download and modify it. If hosted on private servers, data will not be sent to China. However, most users rely on the official version which stores data in China.
TikTok collects user behavior, device details, and location. DeepSeek goes further by tracking and sharing personal chats. TikTok focuses on analyzing app usage. DeepSeek actively monitors and shares conversations.
Users should be aware of the risks before using DeepSeek. The app provides powerful AI features but at the cost of privacy.