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Europe’s Privacy Watchdogs to Discuss DeepSeek Amid Data Privacy Concerns

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European Union data protection authorities are set to discuss concerns surrounding the Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek during their monthly meeting on Tuesday, according to the meeting agenda. The discussions arise amid growing scrutiny of how DeepSeek handles personal data, especially regarding European users.

DeepSeek made waves globally last month by showcasing its ability to compete with major U.S. tech firms in human-like reasoning technology, while offering services at a significantly lower cost. However, concerns have been raised by several European privacy regulators about whether the company is using personal data from European citizens to train its AI models and if such data could be transferred to China.

The European Data Protection Board (EDPB), based in Brussels, has scheduled a session to address DeepSeek’s activities. During the meeting, national data protection authorities will share information on the actions they’ve taken in response to DeepSeek’s operations. Marie-Laure Denis, president of the French privacy watchdog CNIL, emphasized that the goal of the meeting is to harmonize responses and share insights on how to address privacy risks posed by the company.

The CNIL confirmed that it had reached out to DeepSeek for clarification on how the company’s AI system operates and whether there are any potential privacy risks for users. Ireland’s data protection authority has also sought further information from the Chinese startup. Meanwhile, Italy’s data watchdog has taken more drastic action, ordering DeepSeek to block its chatbot in the country due to non-compliance with privacy concerns over its policy.

Europe has been known for its strong stance on data privacy, with its General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) considered one of the strictest data protection laws in the world. The scrutiny of DeepSeek highlights the region’s commitment to safeguarding user privacy amid the rapid growth of AI technologies.

Europol Urges Financial Sector to Prepare for Quantum Computing Risks

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Europol’s Quantum Safe Financial Forum has called on Europe’s financial industry to start preparing for the potential risks posed by quantum computers, which could break commonly used encryption methods within the next 10 to 15 years. The group, which focuses on safeguarding sensitive financial data, issued a warning on Friday about the risks quantum computing poses to customer confidentiality, peer communications, authentication processes, and trust in digital signatures.

Although quantum computers capable of such threats may still be a decade or more away, the timeline could accelerate, the forum warned. Despite the emerging risks, the forum believes new regulations are unnecessary, as current European Union data protection laws are sufficient.

The Quantum Safe Financial Forum includes representatives from the U.S., European, and British central banks, along with major financial institutions such as Allianz, Santander, Barclays, BNP Paribas, Mastercard, Moody’s, and European banking associations.

Quantum computers operate by leveraging subatomic particles to perform calculations more efficiently than traditional binary computing systems. Given their potential to decrypt today’s secure communications, the forum recommended that financial institutions begin identifying which cryptographic standards are vulnerable to quantum computing and start drafting operational plans to mitigate future risks.

The forum also cautioned that criminals may already be storing sensitive encrypted data with the intention of decrypting it once quantum computing becomes more powerful.

The U.S. government has already set a 2035 deadline for federal agencies to become “quantum resistant,” underscoring the urgency for global financial institutions to follow suit.

EU to Hold E-commerce Platforms Liable for Unsafe Goods, Targeting Temu, Shein, and Amazon

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The European Union is moving forward with plans to hold e-commerce platforms like Temu, Shein, and Amazon Marketplace responsible for dangerous or illegal products sold on their websites, according to a report by the Financial Times on Saturday. The new proposal includes customs reforms that would require online platforms to provide detailed data on products before they reach the EU, giving customs authorities more control over inspections and the ability to better track and regulate goods.

Under current rules, consumers who purchase goods online within the EU are considered the importers for customs purposes. However, the new reform would shift this responsibility to the e-commerce platforms themselves. Platforms like Amazon, Shein, and Temu would be required to ensure that products comply with EU safety standards, collect the relevant customs duties and VAT, and provide detailed product information before goods are shipped to the EU.

The EU also plans to create a new central customs authority, the EU Customs Authority (EUCA), which will pool customs data from the 27 member states. This new body will be tasked with screening goods and identifying potential risks before the products are even loaded for transport or physically arrive within the EU, as per the draft proposal seen by the Financial Times.

Currently, Amazon, Shein, and the EU have not commented on the matter, and Temu could not be reached for a statement. The new rules are expected to provide stronger oversight and improve consumer safety in the rapidly growing e-commerce sector.