DeepSeek, a rapidly growing AI platform developed by Chinese company DeepSeek, recently topped app store charts with its impressive AI chatbots and large language models (LLMs). While its innovation and affordability have attracted millions of users globally, concerns about privacy and censorship are making headlines.
Investigations revealed that the DeepSeek app stores and processes user data on servers in China, potentially subjecting it to government access under the country’s strict national security laws. Additionally, the app has implemented a special censorship layer that removes answers to politically sensitive questions.
However, it’s important to note that DeepSeek’s core AI model itself is open-sourced and has been verified by US experts to be safe and free from built-in censorship. The issue lies not with the model but with how the DeepSeek app applies censorship and data collection practices. By hosting the model on secure servers in the USA and keeping all data within the Western world, users can bypass these concerns entirely.
Recently, Italy’s data protection authority blocked DeepSeek from Apple and Google app stores after raising concerns about its handling of user data. Similar inquiries have been launched in Ireland, with regulators questioning data processing practices, legal compliance, and safeguards for underage users.
The key question is whether it’s possible to enjoy DeepSeek’s advanced features without compromising safety and privacy. The answer is yes — by using DeepSeek through platforms like Fello AI, which offers a secure, US-hosted environment free from censorship.
DeepSeek Controversy
DeepSeek, while offering groundbreaking technology, has become a focal point of concern due to privacy and censorship issues. In this section, we break down the critical differences between the DeepSeek app and its open-source AI model, as well as the underlying issues regarding data safety and censorship.
DeepSeek App vs. Model
The confusion around DeepSeek stems from the distinction between its open-source model and the official app. While the model itself has been independently verified by US experts to be secure and free of censorship, the app introduces significant risks through its implementation.
- The Model: DeepSeek’s large language models, including the flagship R1 and V3, are open-sourced and praised for their efficiency and reasoning capabilities. When hosted locally or on secure Western servers, these models do not transmit data externally and operate without any inherent censorship.
- The App: The official DeepSeek app, however, includes a custom censorship layer that modifies or suppresses responses to politically sensitive topics. Additionally, all user interactions are transmitted to servers in China, making them subject to Chinese surveillance laws.
Censorship
DeepSeek’s app has been criticized for selectively moderating politically sensitive content, aligning responses with Chinese state narratives. Users have reported that queries related to topics such as the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, human rights issues, and Taiwan’s sovereignty are either ignored or met with vague refusals.
The app’s censorship policies prevent users from accessing unbiased information about topics deemed sensitive by the Chinese government. This behavior undermines confidence in DeepSeek as a reliable AI platform. Users seeking factual information or conducting research may feel misled or restricted by the app’s content policies.
Data Safety
Another major concern with the DeepSeek app is its handling of user data. Investigations revealed that all chat logs, uploaded files, and even keystroke patterns are sent to servers in China. Under the 2017 National Intelligence Law, Chinese authorities can request access to any company-held data for national security purposes. This puts foreign users at risk of unauthorized data access.
For users in the US and EU, this practice raises serious privacy concerns. Compliance with Western data protection laws, such as GDPR, is questionable when data is stored and processed in a jurisdiction that prioritizes state oversight.
To mitigate these risks, the safest approach is to host the DeepSeek model on secure servers within the US or Europe, keeping all user data protected from external access.
Safer Alternative for DeepSeek App
Fortunately, you don’t have to choose between innovation and safety. Fello AI allows you to access DeepSeek’s powerful models in a secure, US-hosted environment.
Fello AI is a desktop app designed for Mac users, offering seamless access to multiple AI models, including ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and DeepSeek. By hosting DeepSeek on US-based servers, Fello AI eliminates privacy risks and censorship concerns.
Key Features
- No Data Sent to China: All interactions with DeepSeek are routed through secure US data centers, ensuring compliance with Western privacy laws.
- No Censorship: You can freely ask questions about any topic without encountering politically motivated restrictions.
- Multi-Model Support: Easily switch between DeepSeek, ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity and other models to find the best fit for your needs.
- File Analysis: Fello AI supports multiple forms of input such as text, PDFs, and images, allowing users to analyze documents and other content seamlessly.
- User-Friendly Experience: Designed with simplicity in mind, Fello AI makes it easy to interact with powerful AI models. Its clean interface and advanced features provide a smooth, intuitive user experience.
How to Get Started with DeepSeek on Fello AI
Here’s a step-by-step guide to using DeepSeek safely on your Mac:
- Download Fello AI: Visit the Mac App Store and search for Fello AI. Install the app on your device.
- No Registration Needed: Open the app and that’s it. You can immediately start chatting with any available model such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude or DeepSeek.
- Access DeepSeek: Navigate to the model selection menu in the top right corner and choose DeepSeek from the list of available AI models.
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Stay Safe While Enjoying the Best of AI
DeepSeek’s rise showcases China’s growing influence in AI innovation, but its data practices and censorship policies pose significant risks for users in the US and Europe. By using Fello AI, you can harness DeepSeek’s capabilities without compromising your privacy or freedom of information.
Whether you’re a casual user or a professional, Fello AI provides a secure, feature-rich platform to explore the full potential of large language models. Download the app today and experience AI on your terms.