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Czech Government Bans Use of Chinese AI Startup DeepSeek in Public Administration

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The Czech government has prohibited all use of services from Chinese AI startup DeepSeek within the country’s public administration, citing data security concerns, Prime Minister Petr Fiala announced on Wednesday. The decision aligns with similar restrictions imposed by Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands due to fears about data protection.

Fiala explained that DeepSeek, as a Chinese company, is legally required to cooperate with Chinese authorities, potentially granting Beijing access to data stored on the company’s servers in China. This risk prompted the government to ban DeepSeek’s AI products, applications, websites, and web services from official public use.

DeepSeek and the Chinese embassy in Prague have not yet responded to requests for comment. The startup made headlines earlier this year by claiming to offer a low-cost AI model competing with U.S. firms like OpenAI’s ChatGPT. However, concerns have grown in both the U.S. and Europe over DeepSeek’s handling of personal data.

DeepSeek’s privacy policy indicates that it stores user data, including AI requests and uploaded files, on Chinese servers, intensifying worries about user privacy and data security.

Trump Extends Deadline for US TikTok Sale to September

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U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday extended the deadline to September 17 for ByteDance, the China-based parent company of TikTok, to divest the app’s U.S. assets. This extension comes despite a law requiring the sale or shutdown of TikTok in the U.S. without significant progress.

Trump signed an executive order delaying the original deadline, which was set for Thursday, by 90 days—a move he had previously indicated.

The Republican president had already granted two extensions earlier, postponing enforcement of a law that mandated TikTok’s sale or shutdown by January, unless significant progress was made toward divestment.

Trump has expressed a desire to keep TikTok operational in the U.S., noting the app helped him gain young voters in the 2024 presidential election. He also voiced optimism that Chinese President Xi Jinping would approve a deal preserving TikTok’s presence in the U.S., although it is unclear how much the issue has been discussed amid ongoing tariff disputes between the two countries.

TikTok released a statement expressing gratitude for Trump’s support in keeping the app available. The company said it is continuing discussions with U.S. Vice President JD Vance’s office.

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told reporters that the extension provides “more time to make a good deal.” She added that legal experts at the White House and Department of Justice support the extension’s legality.

On Tuesday, Trump had indicated he would likely extend the deadline and expressed hope for China’s approval of the sale. “I think President Xi will ultimately approve it,” he said.

The 2024 law required TikTok to cease operations in the U.S. by January 19 unless ByteDance had divested U.S. assets or made substantial progress toward a sale. Trump, who began his second term on January 20, chose not to enforce the law and previously extended the deadline twice: once to early April and again last month to June 19.

Earlier this year, Trump offered to reduce tariffs on China to facilitate a deal for TikTok’s U.S. operations, which currently serve 170 million Americans. A planned deal would spin off TikTok’s U.S. business into a new company majority-owned by U.S. investors but was paused after China indicated it would not approve it amid tariff tensions.

Some Democratic lawmakers argue that Trump lacks legal authority to extend the deadline and question whether the proposed deal would comply with legal requirements.

Trump to Extend TikTok Sale Deadline for Third Time, White House Confirms

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U.S. President Donald Trump will extend the June 19 deadline for ByteDance, TikTok’s China-based parent company, to divest the app’s U.S. assets by 90 days, according to the White House. This marks the third extension of the deadline imposed by a law requiring either a sale or shutdown of TikTok in the United States unless significant progress toward divestment was made.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Tuesday that Trump plans to sign another executive order this week to keep TikTok operational, pushing the deadline to mid-September. She emphasized the administration’s intention to ensure the sale is completed so Americans can continue using TikTok with confidence in their data’s security.

Trump previously extended the deadline twice: initially delaying enforcement from January to early April, then again to June 19. He cited TikTok’s popularity among young voters in the 2024 election as a reason for the extensions. On Tuesday, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that he expected to extend the deadline again and expressed optimism that Chinese President Xi Jinping would approve the deal.

The law mandated TikTok’s shutdown by January 19 unless ByteDance completed the sale of its U.S. operations or demonstrated significant progress. Negotiations have aimed to spin off TikTok’s U.S. operations into a new, majority U.S.-owned company, but progress stalled after China signaled it would not approve the deal, especially following Trump’s announcements of steep tariffs on Chinese goods.

Democratic senators have criticized the extensions, questioning Trump’s legal authority to continue delaying enforcement and expressing concerns that the proposed deal would not satisfy legal requirements.