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Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek is facing an escalating wave of governmental and regulatory restrictions worldwide, amid rising concerns over data security and user privacy, following reports that large volumes of personal user data are being stored on servers located in China.

According to the reports, the stored data includes user prompts submitted to AI models, as well as files and content uploaded through the application. This has triggered regulatory alarm over the risk of unauthorized access to sensitive information and the adequacy of safeguards in place to protect such data.

Several countries have begun taking varying measures against the application, ranging from banning its use on government devices and suspending its availability on app stores, to launching formal investigations into its data collection, processing, and cross-border transfer practices.

In some instances, governments have requested major technology platforms to remove DeepSeek from their services, while other countries have limited their response to issuing official warnings to users about potential risks, particularly those related to personal data confidentiality.

These actions span countries across Europe, Asia, and North America, where authorities have cited concerns over national security, the protection of government documents, and users’ digital rights. Regulators have also raised questions about the transparency of AI model operations and the potential for generating or amplifying misleading information.

The developments come at a time of intensifying global competition in artificial intelligence, alongside a growing push by governments to tighten regulatory frameworks for technology companies handling cross-border user data, in an effort to balance innovation with digital security and privacy protection.