Chinese AI firm DeepSeek, whose affordable AI model R1 went viral, has reportedly withheld passports of its top employees to prevent possible data breaches.
The move comes in the face of increased worldwide competition in AI, as DeepSeek positions itself as a serious rival to entities like OpenAI and Google DeepMind. The DeepSeek R1 comes with advanced chatbot capabilities alongside content creation applications. The application quickly became the top-rated AI tool on major app stores, surpassing overseas competitors.
The sudden rise of DeepSeek has attracted policymakers across the world with worry regarding data safety and state oversight. Chinese governments, according to experts, stand the risk of gaining access to user data gathered by the AI model. Thus, leading to alarm signals in the US, the European Union, and India.
The US already has restrictions on Chinese AI firms due to national security, while the European Union has suggested new regulation for AI services handling sensitive user data. India is considering its foreign policy regarding AI applications that function within its territory. Data privacy risk and state interference are the primary concerns for all the above nations.
On the other hand, the announcement of DeepSeek engineers’ travel ban imposition to keep state and sensitive trade secrets secure has also made news.
DeepSeek has not yet made a public statement about the employee travel restrictions allegations. However, the allegations have reignited discussions about AI intellectual property protection, especially as geopolitics shape the global tech landscape.
As pressure rises from foreign regulators, the future of DeepSeek and other Chinese AI firms in global markets remains uncertain.