Experts Caution Against Rapid Adoption of Chinese AI Platform DeepSec Amid Privacy and Misinformation Concerns
London:Experts are urging caution regarding the rapid adoption of the Chinese-made AI platform, DeepSec, highlighting potential risks such as the spread of misinformation and concerns over the Chinese government’s possible exploitation of user data. Despite its increasing popularity in the UK and US, with DeepSec topping tech stock indices and becoming one of the most downloaded free apps, experts warn about the broader implications of using such a platform.
According to media reports, the UK government has deemed the use of DeepSec a personal choice for citizens, but authorities are closely monitoring any national security risks associated with the new artificial intelligence. If any threats emerge, the government has indicated it will not hesitate to take action.
DeepSec’s affordability and its ability to compete with widely-used platforms like ChatGPT have raised eyebrows in the tech world, showcasing that it can deliver competitive performance at a lower cost. However, concerns over its origin and data security have grown, with experts suggesting that the platform could be subject to Chinese government regulations and control.
Michael Wooldridge, a professor of Artificial Intelligence at Oxford University, expressed concerns about the platform’s data privacy, saying, “It’s not reasonable to assume that the data entered in the chatbot won’t be shared with the Chinese state. I wouldn’t recommend entering sensitive or private information, as you can’t be certain where the data goes.”
Wendy Hall, a member of the UN’s High-Level Advisory Board on Artificial Intelligence, also pointed out the inherent risk of Chinese tech companies working with information, emphasizing that they are likely subject to the Chinese government’s rules on what can and cannot be said.
Further concerns were raised by Ross Burley, co-founder of the Center for Information Resilience, who warned of the potential for DeepSec to promote misinformation campaigns, undermine public trust, and fuel authoritarian narratives in democracies. He noted, “We have repeatedly seen how Beijing has used its technological dominance to control and surveil both domestically and abroad.”
Despite the warnings, the platform’s developers, based in Hangzhou, China, maintain that they prioritize user privacy, stating that personal data is stored on secure servers located in China. However, this raises concerns over how such data could be accessed and used by the Chinese government.
As DeepSec continues to gain traction, the debate over the ethical implications of using Chinese-built AI platforms remains a critical topic for governments, tech companies, and users worldwide.
