China’s AI model, DeepSeek, is under scrutiny for allegedly promoting state propaganda, censoring sensitive topics, and harvesting personal data, raising global privacy and human rights concerns.
Human rights activists and international experts have strongly criticised China’s newly developed AI platform, DeepSeek, accusing it of spreading state propaganda, censoring sensitive subjects, and collecting personal data. The Campaign for Uyghurs has particularly condemned the platform, citing ethical and security concerns regarding its potential misuse by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
DeepSeek allegedly collects and stores users’ personal information, including IP addresses and conversation histories, on China-based servers, raising fears of state surveillance. The AI model is also accused of suppressing discussions on politically sensitive topics, particularly those related to the situation in Xinjiang, where China has been accused of human rights violations.
Rushan Abbas, Executive Director of the Campaign for Uyghurs, denounced the platform’s role in facilitating digital repression. “It collects sensitive data that benefits the CCP, a regime notorious for human rights abuses. Chinese AI tools pose a serious risk of digital transnational repression. We cannot ignore this threat,” she stated on social media.
The Campaign for Uyghurs has particularly condemned the platform, citing ethical and security concerns regarding its potential misuse by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Jan Czarnocki, a Swiss-based digital law expert, tested DeepSeek’s responses regarding China’s actions in Xinjiang and found them heavily scripted. “DeepSeek may be an advanced AI model, but it is also a megaphone for Chinese propaganda,” he remarked. Czarnocki noted that when he tried to discuss alleged crimes against humanity in Xinjiang, the AI abruptly refused to respond, reinforcing concerns over its pre-programmed bias.
He suggested retraining DeepSeek’s open-source framework with accurate data to prevent dependence on Chinese-controlled APIs and to ensure transparency and security. His findings align with research from Open Source Intel, a US-based news and intelligence group, which also reported DeepSeek’s refusal to answer questions about the Uyghur crisis.
The controversy has amplified global concerns about AI-driven censorship and mass surveillance. Critics argue that platforms like DeepSeek undermine free speech and digital privacy, urging the international community to act against such tools of repression.
‘Wake-up call for US AI’
In her first press briefing on Tuesday (local time), US Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt while talking about DeepSeek, a Chinese artificial intelligence company that develops open-source large language models, said that as per US President Trump, this is a wake up call for American AI.
When asked if Trump saw anything fishy about DeepSeek- either its origins or cost and if China’s ability to make these models quicker cheaper affect US thinking about expanding generation data centers, Leavitt said that Trump appointed the first AI czar to ensure American AI dominance.
“The President was asked about DeepSeek last night on Air Force 1 when he gaggled for the third or fourth time throughout the weekend with members of the traveling press corps. The President said that he believes that this is a wake-up call to the American AI industry. The last administration sat on their hands and allowed China to rapidly develop this AI program,” she said.
She said that the National Security Council (NSC) is reviewing any possible security threats.
“DeepSeek may be an advanced AI model, but it is also a megaphone for Chinese propaganda.” – Jan Czarnocki, Digital Law Expert
“So President Trump believes in restoring American AI dominance and that’s why he took very strong executive action this past week to sign executive orders to roll back some of the honorous regulations on the AI industry. President Trump has also proudly appointed the first AI in crypto czar at this White House David Sacks…and his team is here working every single day to ensure American AI dominance. As for the National Security implications, National Security Council (NSC) are looking into what those may be,” she said.
When asked if there is a fear that the US either is falling or has fallen behind in the AI race, Leavitt confidently replied, “No, the President is confident that we will restore American dominance in AI.”
Leavitt further said that Trump signed an order that stopped US funding of USD 37 million to the WHO.
“This is again incredibly important to ensure that this Administration is taking into consideration how hard the American people are working and their tax dollars actually matter to this Administration. You know just during this pause Doge and OMB have actually found that there was USD 37 million that was about to go out the door to the World Health Organization. President Trump with the swipe of his pen in that executive order said US no longer wants to be a part of so that wouldn’t be in line with the president’s agenda,” she said.
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