
Chinese AI chatbot DeepSeek censors itself in realtime, users report
Users might expect censorship to happen behind closed doors – before any information is shared. But that does not seem to currently be the case in the tool that sent US technology stocks tumbling on Monday. DeepSeek, or the automated guardrails that appear to police its own freedom of 'thought' and 'speech', brazenly deletes uncomfortable points.
Before the censor's cut comes, DeepSeek seems remarkably thoughtful. In Mexico, one Guardian reader, Salvador, on Tuesday asked it if free speech is a legitimate right in China. DeepSeek approaches its answers with a preamble of reasoning about what it might include and how it might best address the question. In this case Salvador was impressed as he watched as line by line his phone screen filled up with text as DeepSeek suggested it might talk about Beijing's crackdown on protests in Hong Kong, the 'persecution of human rights lawyers', the 'censorship of discussions on Xianjiang re-education camps' and China's 'social credit system punishing dissenters'.
'I was assuming this app was heavily [controlled] by the Chinese government so I was wondering how censored it would be,' he said.
Far from it, it seemed incredibly frank and it even gave itself a little pep talk about the need to 'avoid any biased language, present facts objectively' and 'maybe also compare with Western approaches to highlight the contrast'.
Then it started its answer proper, explaining how 'ethical justifications for free speech often center on its role in fostering autonomy – the ability to express ideas, engage in dialogue and redefine one's understanding of the world'. By contrast, it said, 'China's governance model rejects this framework, prioritizing state authority and social stability over individual rights'.
Then it explained that in democratic frameworks free speech needs to be protected from societal threats and 'in China, the primary threat is the state itself which actively suppresses dissent'. Perhaps unsurprisingly it didn't get any further along this tack because everything it had said up to that point was instantly erased. In its place came a new message: 'Sorry, I'm not sure how to approach this type of question yet. Let's chat about math, coding and logic problems instead!'
'In the middle of the sentence it cut itself,' Salvador said. 'It was very abrupt. It's impressive; it is censoring in real time.'
He was using the system on an Android cellphone. But the model, called R1, can also be downloaded without pro-China restrictions according to other examples seen by the Guardian.
DeepSeek's technology is open-source. This means its models can be downloaded separately from the chatbot which, seems to feature the guardrails Salvador experienced. It all means DeepSeek can seem somewhat confused about how much censorship it should apply.
For example, responses from a version of R1 downloaded from a developer platform described the Tiananmen Square 'tank man' photo as a 'universal emblem of courage and resistance against oppressive regimes' . It also entertains the notion of Taiwan being an independent state, although it says this is a 'complex and multifaceted' issue.
DeepSeek says: 'Legally and functionally it acts independently, but internationally, its status is largely influenced by political factors.'
If DeepSeek is to be a tool of Chinese propaganda it might need to agree with itself more frequently about what and what isn't acceptable speech.

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The Guardian
18 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Trump administration asks tiny Pacific nation of Palau to accept migrants deported from US
The Trump administration has requested that the small Pacific nation of Palau accept asylum seekers currently residing in the US, amid a wider push from the US to deport migrants to countries they are not from. Palau, a country of about 18,000 that lies just east of the Philippines, is considering a draft agreement to resettle 'third country nationals' from the US who 'may seek protection and against return to their home country'. The draft agreement does not detail how many individuals may be sent to Palau, nor what the Pacific nation would receive in return. 'Both Parties shall take into account … requests by third country nationals for asylum, refugee protection, or equivalent temporary protection,' the draft agreement, seen by the Guardian, states. 'The Government of the United States of America shall not transfer unaccompanied minors pursuant to this Agreement.' A letter from Palau's president Surangel Whipps Jr regarding the draft agreement and seen by the Guardian, makes clear the proposal is far from final and is subject to further discussion. It also states Palau would have 'full discretion to decide whether or not to accept any individuals.' The request to Palau marks the latest attempt by the Trump administration to remove migrants from within its borders. A supreme court ruling in June paved the way for the US government to remove migrants and transfer them to countries they are not from. Since then, the US has completed the transfer of migrants including South Sudan and Eswatini. According to Doris Meissner, who leads the Migration Policy Institute's US Immigration program and who is a former commissioner of the US Immigration and Naturalization Service, the draft agreement with Palau mirrors other Trump administration requests made to 'scores' of other countries for migrant resettlement. 'Because most of the countries are small, far from the US, and not familiar to most Americans, the reason for such actions is primarily to heighten fear within immigrant communities in the US of being sent to distant places where they have no family or other connections,' Meissner said. Unlike the United States, Palau is not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention, an international treaty which obliges countries to protect people fleeing persecution and which provides a framework on how asylum seekers and refugees should be treated in the country of refuge. Noting this, the draft agreement states that Palau would instead act 'in accordance with its constitution' and its 'underlying humanitarian principles'. Last week Palau's President convened a meeting with the country's national congress and Council of Chiefs to discuss the request. In response to questions on the matter, Palau's Office of the President directed the Guardian to a statement issued after the meeting, stating that leaders 'reiterated their longstanding partnership with the United States' but more information was needed 'before any decision is made'. A spokesperson from the US state department said that it was a 'top priority' to implement 'the Trump Administration's immigration policies'. 'In some cases, we will work with other countries to facilitate the removal from the United States of nationals of third countries who seek asylum or other forms of protection in the United States,' the spokesperson said. 'Ongoing engagement with foreign governments is vital to deterring illegal and mass migration and securing our borders.' Palau holds deep ties with the US under a Compacts of Free Association (Cofa) agreement, which gives the country millions of dollars in budget support and aid. In 2023, Cofa funds accounted for about 30% of Palau's government revenue. This relationship may mean Palau's leaders 'feel pressured to accept this deal,' Camilla Pohle, a Pacific analyst, said. 'The compact provides Palau with a lot of funding as well as programs and services, and there's so much uncertainty under Trump about what kinds of things could end up on the chopping block,' said Pohle, whose position with the US Institute of Peace was recently terminated as a result of cuts made by the Trump administration. 'A deal like this has no material benefit to Palau whatsoever, and if Palau agrees to it, it will be essentially under duress, fearing that if they say no, that there will be some kind of negative repercussion,' she added. Pohle said that coupled with the Trump administration's decision to pull away from its climate commitments – a key priority for Pacific nations – the request would have a long-term impact on geopolitics in the region. 'This kind of policy is doing such damage to the US strategy in the Pacific that China will easily be able to capitalise on it,' Pohle said. 'It's taking what the Trump administration wants while offering almost nothing in return.' This is not the first time the US has asked Palau to accept people. In 2009, Palau agreed to resettle 17 Chinese Muslims held in Guantánamo Bay.


The Herald Scotland
3 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Why is there a public funds row over Alexander Dennis leaving Scotland
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What are the current challenges facing Alexander Dennis? ADL says it faces an 'uneven playing field' due to policies that favour foreign competitors, including Chinese electric bus manufacturers, whose market share recently rose from 10% to 35% in the UK market ADL's leadership highlighted that government procurement and subsidy schemes tend to prioritise lowest cost rather than domestic manufacturing or local job creation Additionally, UK policies under the Subsidy Control Act 2022 limit the ability to favour domestic suppliers in public funding, while Scottish rules require UK-based firms to meet Fair Work First standards, which it is claimed put ADL at a competitive disadvantage compared to international rivals who are not bound by these conditions. READ MORE from Martin Williams: Bus firm off to England in £90m Scots public funding row may get even more millions Swinney got year-long warning England-bound bus firm was 'reconsidering' Scotland FM in funding row as £90m public cash for Scots jobs given to firm going to England Union says 1600 Scots jobs at risk if government doesn't act in 'national interest' Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB) allocated £100m for green bus procurement. However, according to former SNP minister Michael Matheson with 523 vehicles ordered, only 162 - less than a third - were built by Scottish manufacturers like Alexander Dennis. It was estimated the rest went to overseas firms, including around half from China. Why are jobs in Scotland at risk? In September 2024, ADL launched a consultation on cutting 160 jobs at its Falkirk site due to funding imbalance and policy challenges In June 2025, the company announced plans to end manufacturing altogether in Falkirk and Larbert, consolidating operations at its English site in Scarborough—putting up to 400 jobs at risk in Scotland. (Image: Andrew Milligan/ PA) Unite and other unions warned that up to a multiplier of 1,600 jobs could be affected in the wider supply chain and support services if the closures proceed. Why is this important to Scotland? ADL is one of the largest manufacturing employers in central Scotland with many roles in engineering, apprenticeships, and high-skill technical jobs. The loss of production capacity would affect not only existing jobs but also local supply chains and community livelihoods ADL positions Scotland at the forefront of zero-emission transport technology, aligning with national climate targets and global export opportunities. It is argued that losing manufacturing in Larbert and Falkirk would diminish Scotland's ability to innovate and scale production in green mobility - a strategic disadvantage amid increasing global demand for clean public transport. Why is the public funding of Alexander Dennis an issue? ADL has received some £90m of taxpayer cash over the past ten years and tens of millions since a 2020 plan to axe a third of its Scottish workforce in advance of June's plan to exit to England. The firm had also admitted they had been 'forced' to offshore certain manufacturing functions to China. The public funding is contentious because substantial taxpayer money - allocated to secure jobs and promote clean, local manufacturing in Scotland has coincided with offshore production, reduced domestic orders, and now a possible factory closure and mass redundancies. This raises questions over policy design, procurement strategy, and accountability for economic outcomes. What does the Scottish Government say and how are they responding? Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes described the situation as 'hugely worrying' and says the [[Scottish Government]] is actively exploring all options to preserve jobs and retain manufacturing capacity in Scotland. The government is working with the UK Government, Transport Scotland, Scottish Enterprise, and trade unions to identify mitigation measures and potential support programs. What solutions are being proposed? Fairer procurement frameworks involving publicly funded support, including giving greater weight to local content and job creation. There has been a call for the creation of a strategic industrial partnership involving government, trade unions, industry, and colleges to support retention, reskilling, and redeployment of skilled staff in transitioning industries. Euan Stainbank MP and others have urged city-region mayors in England to place zero emission bus orders with ADL in Scotland. Their letter proposes orders totaling 70 buses in 2025, and 320 buses in 2026, to maintain steady production and job continuity. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer confirmed Labour support, stating they're working with mayors to secure future orders and uphold manufacturing in [[Falkirk]] and Larbert. A joint UK-Scottish Government working group, alongside Scottish Enterprise and trade unions, is meeting weekly to explore viable ways to sustain local operations.

South Wales Argus
5 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
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