DeepSeek found Chinese telecom company code, questions raised about security

DeepSeek's source code revealed a link between one of the most popular artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots and a Chinese communications corporation prohibited in America, a report alleged. Code capable of possibly sending information entered in its web client to China Mobile, a report alleged, and it is alleged to be in relation to opening and logging in an account in the Chinese AI chatbot platform, even when it could not be confirmed that DeepSeek actually sends information, but could not be ruled out at least.

According to a report, DeepSeek's source code contains code that may be able to send users' login information to China Mobile. This report was provided to AP by Canada-based cybersecurity firm Feroot Security. The report said that several independent experts have confirmed these claims.

It is worth noting that China Mobile was banned by the US government from operating in the country in 2019 due to national security concerns. It is a major telecom company of China. The US government had raised concerns about the relationship between this telecom operator and the Chinese government. Apart from this, in 2021, the US also banned investing in China Mobile, as evidence of this company's links to the Chinese military was found.

The report did not share technical details of the alleged code, but it revealed that DeepSeek's AI platform is capable of sending users' login information and queries directly to China Mobile's servers.