Headlines

Italy regulator probes DeepSeek over false information risks

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on June 16, 2025

1 min read

· Last updated: January 23, 2026

Add as preferred source on Google
Italy regulator probes DeepSeek over false information risks
Global Banking & Finance Awards 2026 — Call for Entries

ROME (Reuters) -Italy's antitrust regulator said on Monday it had opened an investigation into Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek for failing to warn users that it may produce "

Italy Investigates DeepSeek for Inadequate User Risk Warnings

ROME (Reuters) -Italy's antitrust watchdog AGCM said on Monday it had opened an investigation into Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek for allegedly failing to warn users that it may produce false information.

DeepSeek did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

The Italian regulator, which also polices consumer rights, said in a statement DeepSeek did not give users "sufficiently clear, immediate and intelligible" warnings about the risk of so-called "hallucinations" in its AI-produced content.

It described these as "situations in which, in response to a given input entered by a user, the AI ​​model generates one or more outputs containing inaccurate, misleading or invented information."

In February, another Italian watchdog, the data protection authority, ordered DeepSeek to block access to its chatbot after it failed to address its concerns on privacy policy.

(Reporting by Alvise Armellini and Elvira Pollina, editing by Gavin Jones)

Key Takeaways

  • Italy's AGCM is investigating DeepSeek for inadequate user warnings.
  • DeepSeek's AI may produce false or misleading information.
  • The investigation focuses on the risk of AI 'hallucinations'.
  • DeepSeek previously faced privacy policy concerns in Italy.
  • The probe highlights the importance of clear AI risk communication.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the reason for the investigation into DeepSeek?
Italy's antitrust watchdog AGCM is investigating DeepSeek for allegedly failing to provide clear warnings about the risks of AI-generated misinformation.
What are AI 'hallucinations' as described by the regulator?
The regulator described 'hallucinations' as situations where the AI model generates outputs that contain inaccurate, misleading, or invented information in response to user inputs.
What previous action was taken against DeepSeek by Italian authorities?
In February, Italy's data protection authority ordered DeepSeek to block access to its chatbot due to concerns regarding its privacy policy.

Tags

Related Articles

More from Headlines

Explore more articles in the Headlines category