France’s privacy regulator CNIL announced plans to investigate Chinese AI startup DeepSeek’s operations and data protection practices, following similar probes launched by Irish and Italian authorities.
Key development: The French data protection authority (CNIL) will examine DeepSeek’s AI system to understand its functionality and assess potential privacy risks for users.
- DeepSeek recently gained attention by claiming it trained its DeepSeek-V3 model for less than $6 million using Nvidia H800 chips
- CNIL will specifically question the company about its chatbot operations and data protection measures
- The investigation joins similar inquiries launched by privacy regulators in Italy and Ireland
Regulatory context: The European Union maintains some of the world’s strictest data protection regulations through GDPR and newly established AI rules.
- Companies violating GDPR can face fines of up to 4% of their global turnover
- The EU’s new AI rules impose strict transparency requirements on high-risk AI systems
- Violations of AI regulations can result in fines ranging from 7.5 million euros (1.5% of turnover) to 35 million euros (7% of turnover)
European regulatory landscape: CNIL has established itself as one of Europe’s most active privacy watchdogs.
- The French regulator has previously imposed fines on major tech companies including Google and Meta Platforms
- Ireland’s Data Protection Commission is seeking information about DeepSeek’s data processing related to Irish users
- Italy’s privacy authority has also launched an investigation into DeepSeek’s personal data practices
Looking ahead: As Chinese AI companies expand their global presence, they face increasing scrutiny from European regulators concerned with data protection and AI safety standards.
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