DeepSeek Tackles Evolving Info Security Concerns: "Fake Accounts Cause Confusion"

DeepSeek Issues First Official Statement Amid Information Security Controversy
Global Moves to Block Access to DeepSeek Expand
Chinese Government Also States: "We Have Never Required Data Collection or Storage"

Chinese AI startup DeepSeek has warned that false information and fake accounts related to the company are causing misunderstandings and confusion. This is interpreted as an effort to address concerns after major government agencies worldwide restricted access to DeepSeek due to fears of personal data leaks. As information security concerns about DeepSeek spread rapidly, the Chinese government also stated that it does not collect or demand data from companies or individuals.

Reuters Yonhap News

On the 7th, according to Chinese media outlets Caijing and Pengpai, DeepSeek made this announcement in a statement titled "Official Information Announcement and Explanation of Service Channels of DeepSeek," posted on its WeChat account the previous evening.

This is the first time DeepSeek, which gained attention by introducing low-cost, high-efficiency AI models to the market despite the US ban on AI semiconductor exports, has officially denied various rumors related to the company. The statement came at a time when major government agencies worldwide were restricting access to DeepSeek due to concerns over personal data leaks.

In the statement, DeepSeek said, "Recently, some fake accounts and baseless information related to DeepSeek have misled the public and caused confusion."

It added, "To protect user rights and reduce the negative impact of false information, we provide the following explanation regarding official accounts," noting that DeepSeek only holds official accounts on WeChat, Xiaohongshu, and X (formerly Twitter).

DeepSeek emphasized, "Any accounts other than these are fake accounts posting company-related information under the name of DeepSeek or related responsible persons. All information related to DeepSeek is based on what is posted on official accounts, and any information posted on unofficial or personal accounts does not represent DeepSeek's views, so please carefully verify."

It also stated, "To use DeepSeek AI model services, applications must be downloaded through official channels such as the website," and added, "Any fee-charging activities related to DeepSeek official groups outside the official user groups on WeChat are false, so please carefully discern to avoid financial loss."

Meanwhile, as security concerns grow, moves to block access to DeepSeek are expanding in various countries, including South Korea. South Korean government agencies have restricted access to DeepSeek on computers with external access, and countries such as Australia and Italy have banned the use of DeepSeek on government-owned devices. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on the 6th (local time) that the US Congress is also pushing legislation to prohibit the use of DeepSeek's AI chatbot service app on US government agency devices.

As countries around the world raised issues about DeepSeek's data collection and related information security, the Chinese government stepped in to dismiss these concerns. On the 6th, at a regular briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Zhaokun was asked about the moves by various countries to restrict the use of DeepSeek. He stated, "The Chinese government places great importance on data privacy and security and protects it according to the law," adding, "We have never required nor do we require companies or individuals to collect or store data illegally."