‘Is DeepSeek the TikTok of AI?’ Rajeev Chandrasekhar asks over data concerns, netizens say: ‘distraction, think big…’

Amid concerns raised by a social media user on X (formerly known as Twitter), that Chinese start-up DeepSeek is storing customer data, former union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar asked if the AI dark horse is destined for teh TikTok treatment in the United States.

“Question of the Day Q: Is DeepSeek AI the Tiktok of AI? A: your answers in comments pls,” Chandrasekhar posted on X on January 28.

What Data Privacy Concerns Over DeepSeek?

Chandrsekhar’s post triggered by a netizen noting that DeepSeek’s app disclosures state that it automatically collects information from users, which is secured in servers located in China.

As per the official ‘Automatically Collected Information’ details posted, the start-up automatically collects usage information including “internet or other network activity information such as your IP address, unique device identifiers, and cookies”.

In terms of technical information, the app collects certain device and network connection information, such as “… your device model, operating system, keystroke patterns or rhythms, IP address, and system language”. 

“We also collect service-related, diagnostic, and performance information, including crash reports and performance logs. We automatically assign you a device ID and user ID. Where you log-in from multiple devices, we use information such as your device ID and user ID to identify your activity across devices to give you a seamless log-in experience and for security purposes,” the disclosure added.

As per the statement, the personal information collected “may be stored on a server located outside of the country where you live. We store the information we collect in secure servers located in the People’s Republic of China”.