Italy's data protection authority, the Garante, has ordered an immediate block on the operations of Chinese artificial intelligence firm DeepSeek, citing concerns over potential violations of privacy regulations.

The decision, announced on January 15, came after concerns were raised regarding the firm’s data collection practices and the potential transfer of sensitive information outside of the European Union.

As part of the enforcement, the Garante has requested comprehensive details from Hangzhou DeepSeek Artificial Intelligence and Beijing DeepSeek Artificial Intelligence regarding the categories of data collected, the methods used for collection, and the legal basis for processing the information.

Authorities also seek clarification on whether the data collected from Italian users is being transferred to and stored in China.

The companies have been given 20 days to provide the requested information and to address the identified concerns.

The move reflects Italy’s growing regulatory scrutiny over foreign technology firms, particularly those handling sensitive user data.

It also underscores a broader European trend of tightening data privacy rules under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which mandates strict controls over the collection and processing of personal data within EU member states.

This is not the first instance of Italy’s regulatory body targeting global tech companies.

In recent years, similar actions have been taken against other foreign firms found to be non-compliant with EU data protection standards.

The ongoing investigation into DeepSeek highlights the increasing enforcement of privacy laws as digital technologies expand their reach across sectors.

The Garante’s decision aligns with efforts by European authorities to safeguard user data against unauthorized access or misuse, ensuring compliance with privacy laws designed to protect individuals in the digital age.