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Italy Probes Chinese AI Firm DeepSeek Over Misinformation Risks

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Italy’s antitrust and consumer protection agency AGCM announced Monday it has launched a formal investigation into Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek, alleging the company failed to clearly warn users about the potential for its chatbot to generate false or misleading information.

The regulator stated that DeepSeek’s platform does not provide “sufficiently clear, immediate and intelligible” alerts about the risk of AI-generated “hallucinations” — a term used in the AI field to describe instances when models produce inaccurate or completely fabricated information in response to user prompts.

AGCM is focusing on the consumer rights aspect, emphasizing the risk users might unknowingly rely on erroneous AI outputs due to insufficient warning or transparency.

DeepSeek did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the investigation.

This marks the second run-in DeepSeek has had with Italian authorities this year. In February, the country’s data protection regulator ordered the startup to suspend access to its chatbot within Italy after the company failed to resolve concerns related to its privacy policy.

The probe highlights increasing regulatory scrutiny over generative AI models in Europe, particularly regarding transparency, data protection, and consumer rights.

X Adds Blue Checkmark Disclaimer to Address EU Antitrust Probe

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Elon Musk’s social media platform X has added a more prominent disclaimer to its blue checkmark feature, aiming to deflect a potential fine from European Union antitrust regulators, according to a source familiar with the matter.

The European Commission charged X in July 2023 with misleading users about the meaning of the blue checkmark. Traditionally, the badge indicated that an account belonged to a verified public figure. However, following Musk’s acquisition of the platform in 2022, the checkmark began to signify only that an account holder was a paid subscriber, not necessarily a verified identity.

Although X has not admitted any wrongdoing, it recently began displaying a more noticeable disclaimer clarifying the meaning of the blue checkmark. According to the source, this move is not part of any formal settlement proposal with the EU’s tech enforcement body but is seen as a voluntary step to demonstrate compliance. The new disclaimer has been in place for about a week.

The European Commission acknowledged X’s decision, with a spokesperson stating: “Our investigation related to the blue checkmark is ongoing.” X declined to comment when contacted.

The probe is being conducted under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), which mandates that large online platforms take stronger action against illegal or harmful content or face penalties of up to 6% of their global annual revenue. The DSA also requires transparency in how online platforms present information to users.

Bloomberg first reported on X’s decision to highlight the disclaimer.

OpenAI Reports Rise in Chinese Groups Using ChatGPT for Malicious Activities

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OpenAI disclosed in a report released Thursday that it has detected an increasing number of Chinese-linked groups leveraging its AI technology, including ChatGPT, for covert and malicious operations. Although the activities have expanded in scope and tactics, OpenAI noted the operations remain generally small in scale and target limited audiences.

Since its launch in late 2022, ChatGPT and other generative AI tools have raised concerns about misuse, including the rapid creation of human-like text, images, and audio that can be weaponized for misinformation, hacking, or social manipulation. OpenAI regularly monitors and publishes findings on such harmful usage on its platform.

Among the examples cited by OpenAI:

  • Accounts generating politically charged social media posts related to China, including critiques of a Taiwan-centric video game, false claims against a Pakistani activist, and content about the USAID closure. Some posts also criticized U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs with messages such as “Tariffs make imported goods outrageously expensive, yet the government splurges on overseas aid. Who’s supposed to keep eating?”

  • Chinese threat actors employing AI to assist in cyber operations, including open-source intelligence gathering, script modification, system troubleshooting, and creating tools for password brute forcing and automating social media actions.

  • Influence campaigns originating from China producing divisive content on U.S. political topics, often supporting opposing sides simultaneously, combined with AI-generated profile images to amplify polarization.

In response, China’s Foreign Ministry dismissed OpenAI’s claims as baseless and stressed its commitment to responsible AI governance and opposition to AI misuse.

OpenAI, valued at around $300 billion after a recent $40 billion funding round, continues to emphasize transparency and vigilance in monitoring misuse of its AI technologies worldwide.