cross-posted from: https://scribe.disroot.org/post/3196178

Archived version

Italy’s antitrust watchdog AGCM said on Monday it had opened an investigation into Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek for allegedly failing to warn users that it may produce false information.

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The Italian regulator, which also polices consumer rights, said in a statement DeepSeek did not give users “sufficiently clear, immediate and intelligible” warnings about the risk of so-called “hallucinations” in its AI-produced content.

It described these as “situations in which, in response to a given input entered by a user, the AI ​​model generates one or more outputs containing inaccurate, misleading or invented information.”

In February, another Italian watchdog, the data protection authority, ordered DeepSeek to block access to its chatbot after it failed to address its concerns on privacy policy.

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As an addition:

What They’re Not Telling You: China’s New DeepSeek Censors Even More Than Old Models

• China’s DeepSeek releases advanced AI model R1-0528, rivaling Western systems but heavily censoring political criticism and human rights issues.
• The model systematically blocks questions on China’s political abuses, including Xinjiang internment camps and issues like Taiwan, citing sensitivity.
• Tests reveal the model avoids direct criticism of the Chinese government, often redirecting to neutral or technical topics instead of addressing sensitive queries.
• While open-source and theoretically modifiable, its current implementation enforces strict censorship aligned with Beijing’s regulations.
• Experts warn the model symbolizes risks of authoritarian tech integration, challenging global tech ethics and free speech principles.