Latest news with #GeneralDataProtectionRegulation
Miami Herald
16 hours ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Gemini, ChatGPT rival dealt big blow in key market
Imagine if today's Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools existed back when we were in school. Some of us would've saved so much money trying to bribe the smart kid in the classroom from letting us copy their homework. Nonetheless, many of us graduated without relying on an AI chatbot for answers, and we have critical thinking to thank for that. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter AI has become almost like humans' second and more developed brain by making daily tasks easier through advanced problem-solving, research, and decision-making capabilities. Related: ChatGPT suffers crucial outage, slowly comes back online This invention has allowed people to complete tasks faster and more efficiently than ever. Although it has been a blessing, this tool has a dangerous side that many conveniently ignore. In January, a new AI chatbot emerged, ready to take over major rivals to become humans' new right-hand man. DeepSeek is a Chinese AI startup created more cost-effectively than rivals ChatGPT and Gemini, yet offering better performance and accessibility. However, a recent revelation has created huge privacy concerns. Related: Google brings Iron Man/Tony Stark tech to regular people U.S. officials revealed that DeepSeek is helping Chinese military and intelligence operations, allegedly by providing U.S. users' information and statistics to the country's government, as first reported by Reuters in June. The officials also claim that DeepSeek may have heavily used U.S. technology and employed workarounds to access its AI chips. Since 2022, the U.S. has imposed export restrictions on the chips over concerns that China might use them to advance its military capabilities or gain an edge in the AI race. Now, another country has expressed similar concerns, seeking drastic actions to move DeepSeek out of its citizens' reach. Germany has reported DeepSeek as illegal content to Apple (AAPL) and Google (GOOGL) , aiming to eliminate it from the companies' app stores due to concerns about data privacy, said Data Protection Commissioner Meike Kamp. And Germany may have grounds for its request, since DeepSeek has yet to prove that user data is protected in China at a level equivalent to European Union (EU) standards. More Tech News: Major grocery chain using self-driving robots for deliveriesForget drones, Amazon has new robots that could replace humansEV company makes harsh decision amid new launch The EU's General Data Protection Regulation law prevents companies from sharing data outside the EU, unless the respective foreign country's standards meet the EU's requirements. If the proceedings go as planned, Apple and Google will review the claims and decide whether to ban the DeepSeek app from their app stores. Google is Germany's most commonly used search engine, while ChatGPT is the most widely used large language model. However, DeepSeek is much newer and has quickly gained popularity among AI users. Related: Veteran fund manager unveils eye-popping S&P 500 forecast The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Germany to Apple, Google: Block DeepSeek from app stores because…
A German data protection watchdog has asked Apple and Google to block the Chinese artificial intelligence service DeepSeek from their app stores, a report claims. The regulator has alleged that DeepSeek's app illegally transmits user data to China. According to a report by CNBC, Meike Kamp, Berlin's data protection commissioner, has alleged that DeepSeek's transfer of German user data to China is 'unlawful.' DeepSeek gained attention earlier his year after launching an AI model that it claimed to have developed at a significantly lower cost than rival models, utilising less advanced Nvidia chips. The company also offers its global chatbot AI app, which has been downloaded millions of times, drawing scrutiny. As per the report, experts suggest that if the German case against DeepSeek advances, it could potentially result in an EU-wide ban for the app. What German regulators said about DeepSeek 'DeepSeek has not been able to convincingly demonstrate to my authority that the data of German users is protected in China at a level equivalent to that of the European Union. Chinese authorities have extensive access rights to personal data within the sphere of influence of Chinese companies,' German regulator Kamp said (translated by CNBC). Under the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), companies are not allowed to transfer data outside the region unless appropriate safeguards are in place in the destination countries that align with GDPR standards. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending Local Enterprise Accounting Software [Click Here] Accounting ERP Click Here Undo The Berlin data protection commissioner is specifically concerned that German user data sent by DeepSeek to China could be accessed by Chinese authorities. The Berlin data watchdog also noted that it had notified Apple and Google about the alleged violations and expects the two US tech companies to conduct a "timely review" to determine whether the app should remain on their platforms. However, the report didn't mention whether Google and Apple will act on the request. Google Search AI Mode launched in India: Does it really make your search smarter? AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Euronews
a day ago
- Business
- Euronews
German official urges Apple and Google to ban AI company DeepSeek
A German data protection official has accused the Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) company DeepSeek of illegally transferring user data to China. Meike Kamp, Berlin's commissioner for data protection and freedom of information, reported DeepSeek to Apple and Google and asked the American companies to remove DeepSeek from their app stores. In a statement released on Friday, Kamp said DeepSeek did not provide 'convincing evidence' that users' data was protected, as is required by European Union law. 'DeepSeek's transfer of user data to China is unlawful,' Kamp said, adding that 'Chinese authorities have far-reaching access rights to personal data within the sphere of influence of Chinese companies'. 'Furthermore, DeepSeek users in China do not have the enforceable rights and effective legal remedies guaranteed in the European Union,' Kamp said. She said that Apple and Google must now review the report and decide whether to remove the app. Kamp said that her office had asked DeepSeek to either comply with EU laws for transferring data outside the bloc or pull its app from Germany, but that DeepSeek has not taken either option. Under the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), companies are banned from sending data outside the region unless specific safeguards are in place in the countries where the data is sent. DeepSeek made waves in January when it launched its AI model, claiming it was created at a fraction of the cost of competitors. But studies have shown there are concerns over cybersecurity and safety, including DeepSeek-R1's susceptibility to generating harmful and biased content. As it is a China-based company, the country's law states that any data shared on mobile and web apps can be accessed by Chinese intelligence agencies, which is also generating national security fears. Italy banned DeepSeek from its app stores in January, citing data protection concerns. The country's data protection authority ordered a block on Hangzhou DeepSeek Artificial Intelligence and Beijing DeepSeek Artificial Intelligence – the Chinese companies behind the DeepSeek chatbot – to force them to stop processing Italians' data. The move comes after DeepSeek reportedly told the Italian authorities that it would not cooperate with a request for information.
CNBC
a day ago
- Business
- CNBC
Germany tells Apple, Google to block DeepSeek as the Chinese AI app faces rising pressure in Europe
One of Germany's data protection watchdogs on Friday said DeepSeek's app illegally sends user data to China and asked Google and Apple to consider blocking the artificial intelligence service. Berlin's data protection commissioner Meike Kamp said in a statement that DeepSeek's transfer of German user data to China is "unlawful." There is not a readily available way to get in touch with DeepSeek. CNBC has reached out to DeepSeek's privacy team. Chinese firm DeepSeek made waves this year when it launched an AI model that it claimed was created at a fraction of the cost of competitors, using less advanced Nvidia chips. The company also has its own global chatbot AI app, which has been downloaded millions of times, garnering scrutiny. If the German case against DeepSeek progresses, it could lead to a European Union-wide ban for the app, some experts say. "It is certainly possible that this incident could lead to an EU-wide ban because the rules that apply in Germany are the same elsewhere in the EU and also in the UK," Matt Holman, specialist AI and data lawyer at Cripps, told CNBC by email. There are a few steps before this would become reality, however. "DeepSeek has not been able to convincingly demonstrate to my authority that the data of German users is protected in China at a level equivalent to that of the European Union," Germany's Kamp said, according to a CNBC translation. "Chinese authorities have extensive access rights to personal data within the sphere of influence of Chinese companies." Under the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation — the bloc's huge data protection law — companies are prohibited from sending data outside the region unless specific safeguards are in place at the countries of arrival. Those safeguards must meet GDPR requirements in Europe. In short, the Berlin data protection commissioner is concerned that Chinese authorities could access German user data sent by DeepSeek to China. The Berlin data watchdog on Friday said it had informed Apple and Google of DeepSeek's alleged violations and expects the U.S. tech giants to carry out a "timely review" about whether to ban the app or not from their respective app stores. It's unclear if Google and Apple will comply. CNBC has reached out to both companies for comment. Cripps' Holman said that while and EU-wide ban is possible, there needs to be consensus among the bloc's regulators first that this would be an appropriate step. If Apple and Google remove DeepSeek from their app stores, this would effectively amount to an EU-wide ban, Holman said. "The implications for Deepseek could be, unsurprisingly, quite stark. Access to German citizens' data will be curtailed. In short order this could expand to the remainder of the EU if other national regulators follow suits meaning EU — and potentially UK — markets will be curtailed if Apple and Google disables the app," Holman said. This is not DeepSeek's first run-in with regulators in Europe. Italian data protection authorities in February ordered DeepSeek to block its app in the country. Meanwhile, Irish authorities in January asked DeepSeek for information on its data processing.
Techday NZ
2 days ago
- Business
- Techday NZ
Verax launches Protect to tackle AI data leak risks for firms
Verax AI has announced the global launch of Verax Protect, a solution designed for enterprise use to uncover and mitigate risks associated with Generative AI, with a particular focus on preventing the unintended leakage of sensitive data. The adoption of Generative AI in workplaces is continuing to rise, with many businesses turning to such technology to enhance productivity. However, this rapid integration is exposing us to a number of significant risks, particularly the risk of data leakage. One key concern is that employees might input sensitive data or proprietary information into AI prompts, unintentionally sharing it with external third-party platforms. Recent data shows that over 40% of businesses in the United States now have paid subscriptions to AI models, platforms, and tools, a substantial increase from just 5% in 2023. At the same time, 30% of organisations using AI have already experienced incidents related to AI security. These incidents are also becoming increasingly costly; the global average cost of a data breach reached an all-time high of USD $4.88 million in 2024, a 10% increase from the previous year. Verax Protect is positioned to assist enterprises, including those operating in highly regulated sectors such as finance, healthcare, and defence, in harnessing the advantages of AI while maintaining compliance with data privacy and cybersecurity standards. The solution is designed to support these organisations in avoiding compromises in their stringent data protection regimes as they expand their use of AI. Core features Verax Protect features several core components designed to address key enterprise concerns. The solution aims to prevent proprietary and sensitive data from being inadvertently leaked into third-party AI tools. As AI platforms encourage users to input as much information as possible for optimal results, this has sometimes resulted in employees exposing confidential information to providers that their organisation has not fully vetted. Another key capability is preventing AI tools from disclosing information to staff who are not authorised to access it. The growing use of AI for tasks such as generating reports and summarising company documents increases the risk that internal data could be overshared, placing sensitive material at risk of being viewed by unauthorised personnel. Verax Protect also facilitates the enforcement of organisational AI policies by automating compliance measures. Traditionally, companies have relied on approaches such as employee training sessions and reminder pop-ups to ensure compliance, though these methods have proven largely ineffective. The automated approach aims to reduce the chances of both accidental and deliberate violations of internal policies. In addition to these controls, the solution is designed to help organisations meet security and data protection certification requirements. Many regulatory frameworks, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe or sector-specific laws in the United States, like HIPAA for healthcare and GLBA for financial services, mandate demonstrable efforts to safeguard sensitive data. The adoption of Generative AI presents new challenges around implementing and demonstrating such protections. Verax Protect provides tools to support compliance initiatives and document data safeguarding activities even as AI use increases. Executive insight The launch of Verax Protect is the latest step for the company, which was founded in 2023 by Leo Feinberg, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, and Oren Gev, Chief Technology Officer. The two previously founded CloudEndure, a cloud migration and disaster recovery business, was later acquired by Amazon Web Services for USD $250 million. Leo Feinberg, commented: "Generative AI is a double-edged sword. It promises unprecedented gains in productivity, but it also introduces unprecedented risks. With Verax Protect, we're enabling enterprises to stay competitive by leveraging the power of AI without compromising the security, privacy, and compliance of their most sensitive data." Verax AI also offers other products designed to govern AI usage, including Verax Explore and Verax Control. These tools are intended to help organisations monitor and manage both their internal and external use of AI technologies. According to the company, Verax Protect operates as a real-time oversight and risk mitigation tool tailored to the requirements of modern enterprises. The system integrates with internal business systems and provides adjustable controls that reflect both technical and organisational policy requirements. The increasing prevalence of AI adoption in regulated industries underlines the need for effective risk management and oversight. Verax Protect is designed with these requirements in mind, aiming to help businesses benefit from the productivity enhancements of AI while continuing to meet regulatory and security expectations.
