Hot AI Chatbot DeepSeek Comes Loaded With Privacy, Data Security Concerns

In the artificial intelligence race powered by American companies like OpenAI and Google, a new Chinese rival is upending the market—even with the possible privacy and data security issues.

What Is DeepSeek?
At a glance, DeepSeek looks similar to other offerings like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and others. But DeepSeek is disrupting the market for simple reasons—cost and efficiency.

Other chatbots, like ChatGPT, take a vast amount of of resources to power. Most notably, they require a substantial amount of high-end GPUs from NVIDIA. On the promise of AI, NVIDIA stock has increased almost 100 percent in just a year.

But DeepSeek said it was built using cheaper chips and is more efficient than its rivals.

According to CBS News, Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives said the DeepSeek app was built with only $6 million.

DeepSeek shook big tech stocks on Monday. NVIDIA dropped 17 percent and $600 billion in market cap. That’s the biggest one-day loss for any company in stock market history.

Substantial Data Privacy Concerns
Before trying DeepSeek out, you should consider the privacy concerns by sending information to a China-owned company.

"Obviously, the use of their platform places all prompts and uploads on servers hosted in the PRC. It's nice to see this level of honesty and transparency in software, and the surrender of data sovereignty matters to people and companies,” said Trey Ford, Chief Information Security Officer at Bugcrowd. "The fingerprints of creators are found in their products—and reports of free speech and worldview injection into responses are widely reported from the DeepSeek platform.

"Users, such as citizens, and enterprises whether public or private sector, should reflect on both what they submit to a service, as well as their ability to effectively manage the worldview and perspective of responses provided. The clear involvement of nation-state backed software and service offerings like these are worthy of reflection before use."

About the Author

Brent Dirks is senior editor for Security Today and Campus Security Today magazines.

Featured

  • Mall of America Deploys AI-Powered Analytics to Enhance Parking Intelligence

    Mall of America®, the largest shopping and entertainment complex in North America, announced an expansion of its ongoing partnership with Axis Communications to deploy cutting-edge car-counting video analytics across more than a dozen locations. With this expansion, Mall of America (MOA) has boosted operational efficiency, improved safety and security, and enabled more informed decision-making around employee scheduling and streamlining transportation for large events. Read Now

  • Security Industry Association Launches New “askSIA” AI Tool

    The Security Industry Association (SIA) has unveiled a brand-new SIA member benefit – askSIA, a conversational AI agent designed to help users get the most out of their SIA membership, easily access SIA resources and find the latest information on SIA’s training and courses, reports and publications, events, certification offerings and more. SIA members can easily find askSIA by visiting the SIA homepage or looking for the askSIA icon in the top left of webpages. Read Now

    • Industry Events
  • Industry Embraces Mobile Access, Biometrics and AI

    A combination of evolving workplace dynamics, technology innovation and new user expectations is changing how people enter and interact with physical spaces. Access control is at the heart of these changes. Combined with biometrics and AI, mobile access control has become increasingly crucial for deploying entry solutions that are seamless, secure and adaptive to user needs. Read Now

  • Sustainable Video Solution Delivered for Landmark City of London Office Development

    An advanced, end-to-end video solution from IDIS, with a focus on reducing waste and costs, has helped a major office development in the City of London align its security with sustainability objectives. Read Now

  • DHS to End ‘Shoes-Off’ Travel Policy

    Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced a new policy today which will allow passengers traveling through domestic airports to keep their shoes on while passing through security screening at TSA checkpoints. Read Now

New Products

  • Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden Door Controls is pleased to announce that, in response to soaring customer demand, it has expanded its range of ValueWave™ no-touch switches to include a narrow (slimline) version with manual override. This override button is designed to provide additional assurance that the request to exit switch will open a door, even if the no-touch sensor fails to operate. This new slimline switch also features a heavy gauge stainless steel faceplate, a red/green illuminated light ring, and is IP65 rated, making it ideal for indoor or outdoor use as part of an automatic door or access control system. ValueWave™ no-touch switches are designed for easy installation and trouble-free service in high traffic applications. In addition to this narrow version, the CM-221 & CM-222 Series switches are available in a range of other models with single and double gang heavy-gauge stainless steel faceplates and include illuminated light rings.

  • FEP GameChanger

    FEP GameChanger

    Paige Datacom Solutions Introduces Important and Innovative Cabling Products GameChanger Cable, a proven and patented solution that significantly exceeds the reach of traditional category cable will now have a FEP/FEP construction.

  • ResponderLink

    ResponderLink

    Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), an Alarm.com company and a global leader in gunshot detection solutions, has introduced ResponderLink, a groundbreaking new 911 notification service for gunshot events. ResponderLink completes the circle from detection to 911 notification to first responder awareness, giving law enforcement enhanced situational intelligence they urgently need to save lives. Integrating SDS’s proven gunshot detection system with Noonlight’s SendPolice platform, ResponderLink is the first solution to automatically deliver real-time gunshot detection data to 911 call centers and first responders. When shots are detected, the 911 dispatching center, also known as the Public Safety Answering Point or PSAP, is contacted based on the gunfire location, enabling faster initiation of life-saving emergency protocols.