IT Expert Exposes DeepSeek’s Alleged Data Privacy Violations

San Francisco: A recent investigation by IT trainer and YouTuber David Bombal has raised serious concerns about data privacy and security related to DeepSeek, a Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) company. Bombal conducted a network traffic analysis and discovered that DeepSeek may not be as transparent as it claims regarding its data handling practices.

Using Wireshark, a network analysis tool, Bombal monitored internet traffic while testing DeepSeek’s services. His experiment involved connecting an Android device via an Ethernet cable and using a wiretap to capture data packets. The results were startling—despite DeepSeek’s assurances that user data remains private, 51 data packets were transmitted to servers in Beijing. Further investigation revealed that Alibaba Cloud was also involved in the data transfer, raising additional concerns about DeepSeek’s privacy policies.

Privacy Policy vs. Reality

DeepSeek’s official privacy policy states that the company collects user data, including IP addresses, device identifiers, cookies, and user interactions. However, Bombal’s findings suggest that user data may be transmitted internationally, contradicting DeepSeek’s public statements.

Bombal acknowledged that further testing is needed to determine the exact nature of the data being transferred. However, his findings have already sparked widespread debate and concerns within the tech community.

Public Reaction and Potential Legal Consequences

The video has generated strong reactions from users and cybersecurity experts, with some calling for deeper investigations by regulatory authorities.

• A concerned user commented: “This is a massive security risk! The U.S. government is already considering a bill that could impose up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine for anyone caught using DeepSeek.”
• Another user wrote: “It’s alarming how many people rushed to use this platform without questioning its security risks. Regulatory bodies need to step in.”
• However, some defended DeepSeek, with one user stating: “This test doesn’t necessarily prove wrongdoing. Any AI system collects data, and companies use it for advertising and other purposes. DeepSeek is just exposing the reality of AI usage.”

What’s Next?

With concerns mounting, cybersecurity experts are calling for independent audits to verify Bombal’s claims. Meanwhile, DeepSeek has yet to release an official response to the allegations.

As the AI industry faces increasing scrutiny over data privacy, this controversy highlights the urgent need for stronger regulations and transparency in handling user information. Whether DeepSeek’s actions are intentional or a case of poor communication and mismanagement, the debate surrounding AI privacy is far from over.